Book Donkey Blabs

Happy New Year...

2011-12-31T10:07:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to say Happy New Year. 2012 is going to be one helluva ride. Sit back, buckle up and enjoy the ride. Let's hope we can be back next year at this time to say Happy New Year and go into 2013 very happily.

I'm out of here.

John
Book Donkey signing off

Baseball...

2011-08-16T08:40:00.001-05:00

Hello,
For those of you who don't know it, I am a baseball fanatic. I absolutely love the game of baseball. The Atlanta Braves are my favorite team. I've been a fan for over 30 years. I love to see or hear when history is made. I love hearing when a perfect game is pitched even if it's against Atlanta (Randy Johnson pitched one back in 2004), or when a team comes from behind to win the game on the last strike (like last night when Freddie Freeman hit a 2 run single against Brian Wilson of the Giants on a 3-2 count with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th). Good stuff. But last night, Jim Thome, the 8th player to hit 600 homeruns. Outstanding stuff!! I just wanted to say Congrats to him for such a feat. Even though I can't stand the Yankees, I want to say Congrats to Derek Jeter for recently getting his 3,000th hit (on a homerun).
Baseball is a fun game to watch. The smell of fresh cut grass. The pop of the baseball hitting the glove. The smell of the leather of the baseball (I got a foul ball off of Sean Casey when the Reds played the Braves back in 2003. One of the guys I went with caught the ball and gave it to me for getting tickets). I absolutely love the game.

Have a good one and I'm out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Change up on my blog...

2011-04-18T10:23:00.002-05:00

Hello,
Yes, it's been a long time since my last post. I've been very busy with school and work. I'm going to change up my blog a bit. I'm going to start adding my pictures to it. Please feel free to comments, give me suggestions, give me props.

Thanks,
John

A fountain in the conservatory at Kiroli Park in Monroe, Louisiana

Issues for 2012 Presidential Candidates...

2010-11-21T08:39:00.000-06:00

Hello,
If you could choose 3 issues for the Republican Presidential Candidate to run on, what would they be? I'm very curious. Mine would be -

1) Stop the spending and audit the Fed. Must find out where we really are.
2) Secure our borders.
3) Enforce the 10th Amendment and give the states the power they need.

There are more I would run with if I was running for President but these are the top 3.

Have fun with it. Nothing nasty because I moderate the comments. This is an informal opinion poll.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey signing off.

I'm in a play...

2010-03-02T06:56:00.002-06:00

Hello,
This past Wednesday evening, my family went to the local community theater to see how we could help out. We homeschool our kids, so we thought it would be a great opportunity to get 2 of our 3 kids involved and us too. Our 5yr old probably can't help that much but my 13yr old and 9yr old certainly can help with whatever needs to be done. A friend of ours, who is active in the theater was going to be there. So we met him there and he introduced us to the director. The director and I started talking a little bit and she asked me if I wanted to read. Remember, we went there to help. After getting a "go ahead" look from my wife, I went up on stage and read some lines. I never intended to get any part of this play. I was thinking that I was just helping out because they didn't have a lot of people to read. Well, come to find out, it was an audition night. After we were done reading, the director told me she was thinking of giving me the "Georgie" part of the play. She even gave me a copy of the script so I could go over it. This has never happened before. I have never been in a play (except church Christmas plays). But nothing like what I am about to do. I am stoked about it.
Well, I got a phone call yesterday telling me that practice had been canceled for the evening and we would start practicing on Tuesday night. I called her back to let her know I had gotten her message and to see what character I had gotten. And sure enough, I got the "Georgie" part. Now about the play:
The name of the play is - What the Bellhop Saw. It's a comedy where Georgie is wanting to have an affair with his secretary. Georgie's brother, Wally, has hooked him up with a room in a plush hotel for the night. The problem comes in where the room gets double booked and nobody knows it. The other occupants of the room are an author who wrote a controversial book and a CIA agent who is protecting the author. There is a terrorist who is out to kill the author and thinks Georgie is the author. Georgie's wife finds out about the "affair" and comes to the hotel looking for Georgie. There is a lot of chaos and mayhem. It is a very funny play. My kids are excited because my character gets knocked out twice, kicked in the shins twice, choked by Arlene (my wife), and other things.
This is going to be an interesting 2 months for us. Play practice Mon - Thu until the play starts in April. At least my schooling won't be effected. All I have is computer classes. When my 4th class starts Mar 22, Mondays are going to be really busy because that class is from 2 - 5.
I'll keep people updated on how things are going.

I'm out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Mayor puts price tag on soldier's lives...

2010-01-27T06:57:00.002-06:00

Hello,
I am part of The Well Regulated Militia group. I got an email today from one of it's members. I was absolutely shocked with what I read (which is below). Please read and get this out to the public. I wonder how many other officials feel the same way. I am hoping not many.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Submitted to me by Walter Hughey:

Brothers,
This letter was sent to me be Beverly Perlson, the head of band of mothers, and a WRAM member. it is off of our normal topics a bit but i think it is something well worth our time and efforts. I'm asking for permission to post it. I have a feeling once you read it you will want to comment on it also. (letter and my reply below, I might have to mail this in two parts)
BOYCOTT GURNEE, IL BUSINESSES: Gurnee Village Board's Vote
25 January 2010
Board Meeting
Village of Gurnee
There was an agreement between the Village of Gurnee and the PFC Geoffrey Morris Memorial Foundation (http://heroesoffreedommemorial.org/) that the Heroes of Freedom Memorial Development would take charge and build a Memorial "For All Those that have Honorably Served in Iraq and Afghanistan and the War on Terror.
Last night, the Gurnee Village Board voted 3-2 Against a Motion to Override Mayor Kovarik's Veto. The meeting was standing room only and much was said by those who came in support of Gold Star Father Kirk Morris and his right to retain control of the project.
Many people spoke in support of Kirk Morris, and I could try and relate here all that was said, but I can't. Only one arrogant statement keeps playing over and over in my mind.
My blood ran cold when I heard a statement read that was made by Mayor Kovarik, with regard to the $250,000 needed for the sculptures for the Memorial. The Mayor was quoted as saying:
“I don’t think we need that much money to pay our respects to veterans,”
Six brave young men gave their precious lives to keep the likes of this ungrateful woman safe and she puts a monetary price on their sacrifice and arrogantly prices respect for their sacrifice as less than $250,000.
Now, due to this disgraceful vote, my blood runs cold thinking that this beautiful tribute to these brave and courageous men will fall under the direction of Mayor "Cruella De Vil" Kovarik.
Well, since Mayor "Cruella" Kovarik, and some on this Village Board just don't seem to understand that the loss of six Sons of the Village of Gurnee is priceless, I'll wager to bet their kind will understand the loss of income the Village of Gurnee is about to suffer. I will not spend one dime in the Village of Gurnee and I will spread the word to everyone I know and they in turn will spread the word. As I stated in the Board meeting, there is a huge movement spreading across this country and deeply embedded in this movement is a disdain for people like this Mayor who obviously thinks so little of, and has no respect or appreciation for, the great sacrifices made by our Fallen Heroes and their families.
As stated by the Mayor, who wants to take control of the Heroes of Freedom Memorial " “I don’t think we need that much money to pay our respects to veterans,” I now give you a statement made by Gold Star Father Kirk Morris, and in comparison to the Mayor's statement, I believe you will see why it is abundantly clear that he should retain control of this Memorial to our Fallen Heroes who have given their all in this war:
"The Heroes Of Freedom Memorial is being built “For All those that have Honorably Served in Iraq , Afghanistan , and the War on Terror” This is not my Memorial nor is it for my beautiful son Geoff. I love my young son so dearly it hurts every minute of every day, just writing his name makes me tear.... but this Memorial is not for him.. It is for ALL of them.
War Memorials should never be built by the men that fought or served in the Armed Forces, but by non-military citizens as a token of our appreciation for their sacrifices. All the men and women who stand in our stead, face forward the evil in this world, run toward danger and not cower from it.. they deserve more than Memorials and thanks they deserve parades and palaces, but America is too short sided for that..... Gurnee has lost six (we are a town of 30,000) Lake County has lost more than 20, Illinois more than 300 and ranks third behind Texas and California with the most casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. This Memorial belongs here, needs to be built now, paid for by regular citizens, and without further interference from Gurnee’s Mayor.
Remember Cpl Jerik that stood up there and called it “Hallowed Ground” for him and the men he served with.. He said he wasn’t able to attend his friends funerals, because he was still deployed in a War zone” but when he came home and learned of this Memorial he visits it often and remembers fondly the times he spent growing up with the friends he has lost in Iraq .. He had wept many times while standing beneath the American flag as it waved over the Memorial... and Cpl Ozark who passionately implored the Board to reconsider stopping the Memorial because it meant so much to him as a monument to the losses and injuries he suffered for the sake of this country.. The Corpsmen that talked about carrying his fallen comrades to safety.. and feeling like the Mayor was shooting him in the legs as he carried the injured Marines to safety... This is why this Memorial must be built.. for ALL of them.. so they can continue to heal, and we Never Forget the sacrifice, dedication to duty, and courage it take to face a deadly enemy and not cower in that duty. This must be built for them"...Gold Star Father Kirk Morris.
As I stated in the Board Meeting, I now will move forward and seek support from law firms who defend Memorials. After the second meeting in Gurnee, this information was offered to me and I shared it with Mr. Morris. At that time, as the amicable man he indicated to me he wanted to try and work within this Board but it is clear they choose not to work with him.
With my deepest respect and devotion to all our Gold Star Families,
Beverly Perlson
The Band of Mothers

(my reply)
Beverly.
I will gladly pass this on. Also i will ask permission to post this on the WRAM site. Let me share another thought with you though. You and I do already have alot on our plate but couldnt we take this to a whole nother level? Id bet dollars to donuts that we could make this monument happen through the patriots we know. Just 2.50 from 100000 people and we march in and demand it be built right now. Let it be built by both citizens and vets together, hand in hand. So that all the people can hear about these brave men from those that made it home. Let the people go home with a personal heart felt love for those who died, and let our vets go home knowing we care, and that we will NEVER forget those who died, and we will always be there to stand side by side with them for freedoms sake. brother wally

Thanks, Wally for the "heads' up." I'll take it a couple of steps further. I will post it EVERYWHERE I CAN, and also bring it to the attention of a couple of veterans I know. One is Trevor Drown, candidate for U.S. Senate from Arkansas. Trevor is a veteran of Afghanistan and a Green Beret.
Another is a retired Army General,Major General Paul Vallely, U.S. Army (Retired)

The Regulator
WRAM RECRUITER,
Administrator

My response to Sen Landrieu's Email...

2010-01-26T18:46:00.002-06:00

I went back onto Sen Landrieu's official site and replied to her email. Here are the questions I asked and to honest, I don't expect a response from her, especially the questions I presented to her.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Hello,
Thanks for the email response I received today. Here are some questions I would like answered about the Health Care Plan:

1) Why is there language saying we must have health care or we will be fined and/or jailed?

2) Why is everything being taxed?

3) Why does there have to be a super majority to repeal anything in the plan?

4) Why is this plan being forced down on us but you won't take it yourself?

5) Why did you receive $300 million for "your vote" and is Gov Jindal really behind you making a deal for your vote?

Thank you for your time and I am patiently waiting for your answer to each of these questions.

Sincerely,
John D. Kittles
A Very Concerned Registered Voter

Email from Senator Landrieu to me...

2010-01-26T16:56:00.002-06:00

Here is an email I received from Sen Landrieu. It doesn't mention anything about the $300 million she received for her vote. Go figure. Enjoy this crapola as much as I did.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

January 26, 2010

Dear Mr. Kittles:
Thank you for conveying your views on the Senate health care bill. The "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" was passed by the Senate on December 24, 2009 and now awaits passage by the House of Representatives. After a thorough and careful review, I voted for this bill because it achieves the goals I believe most of us share: it stabilizes costs and expands affordable health care choices for families and small businesses in Louisiana and throughout the country.

Under our current system, Louisiana's working families spend about one-third of their total income on health care. Since 2000, health insurance costs have increased by 91 percent. During that same time period, however, wages increased by less than 3 percent. In fact, most economists believe that by 2016, healthcare costs will consume about 60 percent of average family income - leaving only 40 percent to cover food, shelter, and everything else. The current health care system is placing Louisiana's working families and businesses under severe strain and exploding our state and federal budgets. I am proud to be part of the effort to reform our health care system.

The health care reform bill that the Senate passed in December will reduce costs for families, businesses and governments. It will also expand insurance coverage and increase choice and competition for Louisianians. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office analyzed the bill and determined that if enacted, insurance premiums will go down or stabilize, and the U.S. budget deficit will be reduced by $132 billion over the next 10 years. The Senate health care reform bill also includes cost-containment measures that encourage employers to spend less on health care and more on employee wages. Economists estimate that this change is likely to result in a pay raise for working American families- by as much as $660 per household in 2019. This is an important and much needed change.

Small businesses will no longer be confronted with extreme and volatile cost increases. Small business owners have repeatedly told me how their financial viability has been threatened by skyrocketing insurance premiums when an employee gets sick. That is why I authored a package of small business amendments that strengthened the bill by extending and enhancing tax credits for small businesses, ensuring the insurance marketplaces are as robust as possible, and eliminating penalties associated with waiting periods, to name but a few. In all, these changes will provide small businesses with $40 billion in tax relief - relief that small businesses desperately need.

This bill will also reduce taxes for working families. According to independent analysts at the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation, the bill provides nearly $450 billion in individual income tax cuts over the next 10 years. By contrast, if Congress does not act, working families in Louisiana will continue to pay a hidden tax of approximately $1,000 a year to cover the costs of the uninsured. Doing nothing is hurting Louisiana, and I'm not going to let this hidden tax continue to burden our working families.

Some of the bill's most impressive provisions will benefit the most important population -- children. This bill will allow children to stay on their parents' insurance until the age of 26. At my request, this bill ensures that youth who age out of the foster care system will be able to stay on Medicaid until the age of 26 as well. Guaranteeing quality health care for our youth will go a long way toward helping them as they transition into their adult lives. Also, immediately after this legislation is signed into law, insurance companies will not be able to drop children for preexisting conditions. This is crucial for children battling with cancer or diabetes.

These are just some of the many ways that this bill will reduce costs and expand access to health care for millions of Americans. The bill is not perfect, but we should never let the perfect become the enemy of the good. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will make a positive difference in the lives of Louisianians and millions more across America.

Sincerely,
A

Mary L. Landrieu
United States Senator

P.S. I am excited to announce that my office is launching new e-newsletters to keep you updated on what I am working on here in Washington, D.C. If you would like to receive the e-newsletter, please go to http://landrieu.enews.senate.gov/mail. Please include your zip code and interest areas so I can stay in touch about issues you care about most.

MLL:jas

My take of yesterday's events and Health Care...

2010-01-20T06:32:00.004-06:00

Hello,
This is my take of the events yesterday. Yesterday was a huge day in Massachusetts (look, I don't live there and can still spell it), an Historic day. Scott Brown, a virtual unknown 6 months ago, came back from a 30pt deficit and won what has and is still being called "Kennedy's seat" in the Senate. Those who think that need to realize just because he sat in the seat for 30+yrs doesn't make it "his" seat. It's the people's seat. As a matter of fact, every seat in the HofR and Senate belong to "the people". Get over yourself and move on.
Now, this hopefully puts a damper on the Health Care Plan. Good! It stinks like a dead skunk on the road. They, meaning the Dems, are scheming right now to pass the Senate HC plan and then come back and "fix it" later.
In my opinion, I think everybody needs some sort of health care. I really do but not at the expense of others like they put into the 2 bills. They are taxing us now for it but the benefits won't kick in until 2014. There is also something in there which says they reserve the right to take the money collected for this bill and use some place else, not on Health Care. WTF is up with that?
Here are some questions I have if this health care is so good:
- Why are so many people trying to be exempt from it- everybody in DC, unions, the Amish (nothing against the Amish) and no telling who else is "stuck" in the bill.
- Why is there a "super majority" - 67 votes put in the bill to repeal anything in the bill?
- Why tax everything too?
- Why cut so much from Medicaid/Medicaid (can't remember which one) and use those systems, in place, tweak them and let everybody have healthcare through them? Make them change their rules to accommodate those with pre-conditions and whatever crap Pelosi aka Skeletor was trying to sell the people.
- Why make it mandatory to have the health care? You must have this or face a fine? - Where in the Constitution does it say that? Somebody please show me where it says that. I really would like to know.

If I missed anything, please put them in the comments and I'll add them to the list later. Answer to the questions above would be great if anybody can answer them. These are questions I really would like answer too. Thanks.

This is all I can think of right now. I'm sure more will come up as the day progresses. I have to get ready for school.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Assessment...

2010-01-12T07:28:00.003-06:00

Hello,
This woke me up this morning and I had to blog about it. Here is an assessment of what I see as the downfall of our country. Everything beyond this can be researched and found by using some sort of a search engine. Here it goes and see how this ugly puzzle fits together. Even if you are on the Obama bandwagon, look at these "facts" and assess for yourself what he is trying to do to our country. Do you think it's right? If a Republican president was doing this, would the public stand for it? Would the MSM stand for it? I seriously doubt it. Here it goes:

- First Executive Order sealed all of his records so nobody can dig into his past. Has any other president done that? Sounds kinda fishy to me. What is he trying to hide? Did he do that bad in school? Or is he hiding something else...

- Our president is pushing government run health care. Why? Yes, everybody needs some sort of health care. I agree with that part but that's where I stop. Making it mandatory I get their health care. Taxing everything. Making it so a super majority, 67 votes, can repeal anything in the plan. And those in DC said they didn't want the plan themselves. They are forcing this down our throats and they don't want it. What's up with that?

- Signed an EO giving Interpol jurisdiction in the United States and they don't have to follow our 4th Amendment: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be
violated; and no Warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

- Signed an EO coming up with a Board of Governors. When you read it, digest it's real meaning, you will see where we are heading. Here is a link to it if you haven't read it yet: http://beforeitsnews.com/story/3456/New_Executive_Order,_IMPORTANT! (If this link winds up broken, let me know and I will create another link.)

- Just read today the US agrees to timetable for UN gun ban. This violates our 2nd Amendment rights: "A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free
State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed." Hillary Clinton is anti-gun and she is going to push this through the Senate to be ratified. Once this takes place and our guns are taken away, how will we stop this machine from moving forward? This is their plan. This is all part of the agenda of Obama.

- I believe the next major step is martial law. I found this explanation of martial law at http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_mlaw.html: "Because of this connection of the two concepts, it is often argued that only Congress can declare martial law, because Congress alone is granted the power to suspend the writ. The President, however, is commander-in-chief of the military, and it has been argued that the President can take it upon himself to declare martial law. In these times, Congress may decide not to act, effectively accepting martial law by failing to stop it; Congress may agree to the declaration, putting the official stamp of approval on the declaration; or it can reject the President's imposition of martial law, which could set up a power struggle between the Congress and the Executive that only the Judiciary would be able to resolve."

I think I have said enough. Any thoughts or comments from anybody? Is what I presented not facts? Am I worried for nothing?

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

What a Mess...

2009-12-19T20:38:00.002-06:00

Hello,
What a mess. Yes, this is what our country is in right now - a mess. Our country is heading down a road which we might not be able to recover from. There are so many problems right now, where do I start. Here is a list:

- Government run health care. Tell me of another country who has government run health care where it is successful. You can't. There isn't one.
- The terror trials of the 9/11 masterminds in New York City. Genius idea from our Attorney General. NOT! Who is the freaking genius who wanted this? Oh yeah, the head of the current administration.
- The massacre at Fort Hood and the stonewalling by the current administration. They aren't providing information to Congress. What are they hiding?

I am sure I missed something. I wish I hadn't. This is enough! Trust me.

My feelings for 2010 - "something of significance" is going to happen and there won't be a midterm election. The Democraps know they are doomed come November. The head of the current administration knows he won't have the majority. When I say "something", it's going to be manufactured by the current administration and we will be under martial law. Check out this website http://dmc.members.sonic.net/sentinel/gvcon5.html It talks about Executive Order - a Presidential Power not designated by the Constitution. With quite a few executive orders, with the stroke of the President's pen, we could be in some very serious trouble. I am hoping this doesn't happen.

I needed to do some venting. I hope you don't mind.

What do you see as a fix to the situation here in the US? Opinions appreciated.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Merry Christmas everyone (if you believe in that sort of thing) If not, Happy Holidays or Happy Solstice or whatever you celebrate.

Third semester down...

2009-12-15T17:04:00.002-06:00

Hello,
Sorry it's been so long since my last post. School was a butt kicker this past semester. I did pass and won't have to repeat any classes. I was really worried about Algebra but got a C. I was so stoked. Now, I am on a 5 week break until the Spring semester. Next semester, I am taking 4 computer classes. Taking a break from Math and English. I will probably take those in the Summer.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

I will blog more especially with our country heading in the crapper.

More to follow...

Personal Dilemma...

2009-11-15T20:12:00.003-06:00

Question: Would you attend a church when you don't agree with their doctrine? Let me explain.

I attend a Southern Baptist Church. I don't agree with some of their doctrine and it's starting to weigh on me. I believe a Christian can have a drink but not get drunk. I believe a Christian should be able to dance. I am not on the "let's destroy the livelihood of every homosexual" trip (I have family who is homosexual and I am helping them out. According to the SBC, I shouldn't even be doing that).

I believe we should be following the Torah (FYI: Torah does not mean law. It means teaching or instruction. If you want to discuss this at length, leave a comment and we can discuss offline) as the Messianic Jews do.

What would you do? Comments are very welcome. If you are on Facebook, leave a comment on my Facebook page.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Win a copy of Rob Bell's Book...

2009-11-05T20:54:00.001-06:00

Want to @RealRobBell's new book "Drop Like Stars"? Enter to win at @adamellis's blog http://tinyurl.com/yz3gcwz

John

Surround yourself with intelligent people

2009-11-04T09:15:00.000-06:00

Surround yourself with intelligent people
Share
Today at 8:54am
Barack Obama meets with the Queen of England. He asks her, "How do you run such an efficient government? Are there any tips you can give to me?"

"Well," says the Queen, "the most important thing is to surround yourself with intelligent people."

Obama frowns. "But how do I know the people around me are really intelligent?" he asks.

"Oh, that's easy," says the Queen. "You just ask them to answer a simple riddle."

Just then Gordon Brown walks into the room.

"Gordon, your mother and father have a child," says the Queen. "It is not your brother and it is not your sister. Who is it?"

Brown answers, "Oh. That would be ... me, your majesty?"

"Yes! Very good," says the Queen.

Upon his return to Washington, D.C., Obama asks Joe Biden the same question. "Joe. Your mother and your father have a kid. It's not your brother and it's not your sister. Who is it?"

"I'm not sure," says Biden. "Let me get back to you on that one." He goes to his advisers and asks every one, but no one can give him an answer. Finally, he ends up in the men's room and recognizes Robert Gates' shoes in the next stall. Biden asks Gates, "Robert! Can you answer this for me? Your mother and father have a child and it's not your brother or your sister. Who is it?"

Gates responds, "That's easy. It's me!"

Biden smiles, and says, "Thanks!" Then, he goes back to speak with Obama.

"Say, I did some research and I have the answer to that riddle. It's Robert Gates."

Obama gets up, stomps over to Biden, and angrily yells into his face, "No, you idiot! It's Gordon Brown!"

Comment:
This was posted by a friend of mine. Hope you enjoy it.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

English class...

2009-10-21T10:55:00.002-05:00

Hello,
I am sitting in my English class waiting on the teacher. Todays assignment was to bring in a one of your favorite books and to read a paragraph from the book. I brought Sex God - Exploring The Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality. It is by Rob Bell. If you have read this book, you should. If you haven't read any of his books, you should. He gives a different view of Christianity which quite a few denominationally minded people find controversial. Rock on. I find his writing very, very good.
As I learned recently, to keep the griping out of my head from the other students, I play my music very loudly until the teacher shows up. Nothing but griping everyday we are in this class. It's their choice but I don't have to listen to it. Todays music choice has been Disturbed, Ice Cube, Ludacris and others like that.

Gotta run.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

One year later...

2009-10-18T06:40:00.004-05:00

Hello,
Yes it has been a long time since my last post. I seem to do that. Part of the reason is our internet has been very stupid lately. We had 8 days of clouds and some sort of precipitation - light rain to down pours - so the clouds blocked the signal some what. But Friday - through today, the weather has been wonderful. It's 42 degrees and great but my internet is still acting stupid. So I have to call the satellite guy to come out and make sure we haven't been knocked off kilter.
One year later - yesterday was my one year anniversary of my retirement ceremony from the Air Force. Yep, one year. Unbelievable. I didn't know what to expect when I retired but it sure wasn't this. This is what has happened the past year in a nutshell:
- Had my retirement ceremony
- Went to Louisiana in November
- Decided to move back to Louisiana in mid November so I could go to school in January
- Moved the first week of December (which during the week of moving, my middle child was bed ridden sick)
- Left our best friends (which I would move back to San Angelo in a heartbeat to be back with them)
- Tried to get the house in order (the first time the movers tried to deliver our stuff, it snowed. Our stuff wasn't delivered until Dec 22)
- Started full time college for the first time ever (first time back in "school" in over 24 years)
- Going from having a social life to nothing (it's too far to drive with a limited income and do stuff).
There have been lots of changes in the past year. Some good, some bad but at least we, my family, are together.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Human Trafficking...

2009-09-30T07:06:00.003-05:00

Hello,
Yes, I know, I know. It's been a while since my last post. My most humble apologies. I can come up with excuses but that's what they are excuses. I have no real reason why I haven't posted anything until now. This blab is an awareness blab. It deals with human trafficking. I read a blog post from a pastor - Perry Noble - who mentioned the A21 group and IJM group. I am going to focus on the A21 group on this post. If you look on the right side of the blog, you will see a link to their site. Two reasons I am going to focus on A21 - 1) I think what they are doing is absolutely fantastic. 2) I like their website (personal reason for me because I am striving to be a web designer.) Anyway back on track here.
Human trafficking is a very serious problem. People are being used for all kinds of illegal activities. Here are some of the statistics from A21's website:

- Human trafficking is one of the largest smuggling businesses in the world

- Sex Slavery - average age is 14 yrs old

- In Greece, people are sold into slavery every 47 seconds or 1838 women and children are sold into slavery everyday

- Roughly 27 million people are held in slavery worldwide today

- Every 2 minutes, a child is being prepared for sexual exploitation

- Victims are forced to have sex up to 40 times a day

- By 2010, human trafficking will be the number one crime worldwide

This has got to stop. If you have children, which I do, it makes me cringe at this crap and what's going on. This group is trying to help.

Check out their website. See how you can help them out. I am going to do what ever I can on my end to help. Awareness right now is the best way I can help. Getting the word out right now.

If you are a person of faith, keep them in your prayers. It's a dangerous business they are in.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Back up...

2009-09-04T22:13:00.006-05:00

Hello,
I fixed the comment problem on the blog. Not sure what the problem was but it's been fixed. So, if you have comments, please post them.
Again, my apologies for those who wanted to post a comment and couldn't. It was not on purpose.

I am out here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Issues on the blog...

2009-09-04T18:11:00.003-05:00

Hello,
I am having some issues with the comments section on the blog. A friend of mine told me about the issue. I will look into it later on. I have a bible study to go to (I am running it). So I will keep y'all informed on the situation.
No, I am not trying to make it to where people can't comment. I want to hear what people have to say. So, if you have tried to comment, my sincere apologies. I will fix the problem.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

A Few Thoughts...

2009-09-02T08:06:00.002-05:00

Hello,
It's been a little bit since my last blab. This blab is me venting about some of the things floating around out there. Here it goes:

1) Idiot pastor - The pastor praying for Pres Obama to die from brain cancer is a moron. It goes against so many scripture references, it's not even funny. It's idiots like this and the Westboro Baptist Church, who protest funerals of veterans saying they deserved what they got, are giving Christians a bad rap. Just Google Westboro Baptist Church and see what I am talking about.

2) ED Recovery Act - The Pres is going to speak to all the students in school about the ED Recovery Act on Sept 8. Uh, why? I sure hope my teachers don't make us sit through it. I about had a fit because we watched (or looked like I was paying attention) to the inauguration of Pres Obama. Yeah, it's history but so was 9/11 and look at the country now. Acting like it never happened.

3) Abortion - A very touchy subject but something I am going to throw out there. If people really understood what this is about, they would be very upset. If you Google, Margaret Sanger and Eugenics, you will see what abortion is and has always been about.

4) Now on the lighter side, I am learning how to use GIMP which is a free program which has the some of the same features as Photoshop. I have created a couple of planets (which rotate), and my logo up top. I tried to make an eyeball but it didn't come out like the pic in the tutorial. It's pretty cool playing around and seeing what I can create.

Well, I have blabbed enough.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Fall Semester has started...

2009-08-25T18:23:00.005-05:00

Hello,
I waited until I attended all of my classes before posting this blog. This is my third semester attending Louisiana State University in Eunice to get my Associates Degree in Computer Science. When I complete this semester, I should and hopefully will have three more semesters to go.
Here are the classes I am taking this semester. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I am taking English Composition and College Algebra. The teachers seem to be alright but time will tell. My Tuesday and Thursday classes are ArcGIS or Geographic Information Systems (dealing with maps on the computer) and Powerpoint/Dreamweaver class. These classes are back to back, 1hr 20min classes each. I am glad I wore jeans today or I would have froze my butt off. It was cold. It's a computer lab, so it must stay cold. I know the teacher for this class. I had him in the Spring semester for two computer classes plus he is my adviser.
I am sure I will be posting again about school. Something is bound to come up. I hope everybody has a good rest of the summer and a good fall.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Very busy rest of the week...

2009-08-19T09:10:00.002-05:00

Hello,

Yes, the rest of the week is going to be hectic for me but good (I hope). Tonight is Bible study at the church. The study is in James 3:5b-12, Taming the Tongue. Should be a good study. If Christians applied what is said, things would be good.

Tomorrow night is Brotherhood Prayer Meeting. This is where the men of the church and those who don't attend our church (for whatever reason) have a meal and somebody does a devotion. Well, I have the devotion. I am going to speak/devote on Jesus. Gonna be good.

Friday night is another Bible study. About 3 weeks ago, somebody was talking about a Friday night Bible study they had at the church. After some discussion, I was asked to teach the Bible study. So, whoever wants to meet on Friday nights for the Bible study comes and we discuss the Bible. There is no set agenda. We started in Genesis 1 and have gone through Genesis 7. This week we are going to discuss questions about a couple of parables Jesus spoke. Gonna be good.

I get to teach Sunday School again. The teacher likes to spend all week preparing for the lesson. Well, he didn't get back from vacation until yesterday so he wanted me to teach the lesson this week.

Gotta go. Until next time.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Persecution...

2009-08-18T07:13:00.005-05:00

Hello,

First off, I am not perfect. No where near perfect. Never claim to be and never will claim to be. What I am writing, I am not sure how I would act/react to the situation. At the rate our country is going, it may come sooner than we think or want.

As you can see from the title, this probably isn't going to be an easy post/read. When someone mentions the word "persecution" it's not going to be good. This is geared more towards those of faith, some sort of faith so here it goes.

The link is about two (2) Iranian women, yes Iranian women who are being persecuted because they won't denounce the name of Jesus. Some people are going to be like, 'that's no big deal, it's not happening here' (keep reading). 'They are idiots for not denouncing someone who doesn't exist.' 'It's their fault for getting themselves in that situation.' Let me ask you something, if someone came up to you and told you to stop believing the way you do under the penalty of death, would you? If you believe a certain way, have a certain faith (no matter what it is) and you were told if you didn't stop believing that way, you were going to be tortured and killed, would you? Or they hold your family hostage, your wife/husband, you child(ren) and told you to stop believing the way you do or they are going to be tortured/killed in front of you, would you stop believing?

This kind of stuff is happening everyday in the world. People are being tortured - holes drilled in their legs, beaten with rods and who knows what else, given very little food and water, and other very bad ways. And in some countries, like Iran, women are raped before they are executed. People are being beheaded because they believe in Jesus and won't denounce Him. If we were in the same situation, what would we do? When you answer this question, look deep into your soul and don't get religious and say 'I would stand before them and not denounce Christ.' I really don't know how I would act/react to save my family.

Here are some verses of scripture (different versions of the Bible) about persecution:

- Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (KJV)

- Luk 21:12 Before all these things take place, however, you will be arrested and persecuted; you will be handed over to be tried in synagogues and be put in prison; you will be brought before kings and rulers for my sake. (GNB)

- 2Ti 3:12 Everyone who wants to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted; (GNB)

- 2Ti 3:12 And, indeed, all desiring to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (LITV)

I know this is a tough subject. I know it's something we don't have to "deal" with here in America or do we? How many people have been shunned, ignored or flat out told they aren't part of their family any more because they go to a certain church? How many people are criticized because their denomination isn't the same? How many people are ignored by family members and so called friends because they are going to church, any church? How many people are persecuted because of the way they dress, the music they listen to, the tattoos/piercings on their bodies? Those people need Jesus too. Those people need the gospel too.

Not talking to people because of the way they look physically, the way they dress, the accouterments on their faces and craniums is a form of persecution whether you like it or not. Yes, I am very guilty of this.

We are told to go out and disciples of people (Matt 28:18-20). We are to tell people about Jesus. They want to know. They have a right to know. It's OUR obligation to tell them about Jesus. The least we can do is invite people to church. It's not that hard to say "Hey. I would like to invite you to church. Would you like to come?" It's not that hard. What's the worse thing they could say No. But you could make an impact on somebody's life by inviting them to church and they get saved. Think of the possibilities.

This post is one of the toughest ones for me. It's a reminder to myself that others need Jesus in their lives. I did and I thank God a friend took the time to tell me about Jesus.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Out of my comfort zone...

2009-08-05T21:23:00.002-05:00

Hello,
I was taken out of my comfort zone today and I didn't like it. Let me explain this. I hate confrontation. Serious in your face confrontation. I don't like, never liked it and probably never will like it. But God put in that situation today. This was my first real confrontation with someone since I retired from the Air Force. It was somebody who didn't like me and my wife. They said they didn't hate us, but you can tell by the fruits they bear, they hated us.
When I had confrontation in the Air Force, I had my rank to back me up just like everyone else does. As a civilian, dealing with a civilian, I didn't have my rank or status to back me up. I am an average Joe (or in my case John) like this person is.
Our renters moved out of the trailer. They signed a contract back in 2006 which said they are to pay the rent by the 1st of the month (which they never did). So for over three years, they were late on their rent. We had them dead to rights on this. We weren't going to pay them the deposit back. After our heated confrontation, the Lord laid it on my heart to pay them the deposit and talk about Him.
I didn't want to. I really didn't. I talked to my wife about it. I went to the bank, got the money and a money order. I went back to the trailer and talked with this lady. You could tell by the way she talked to me, she still hated me.
I asked her if she knew Jesus. She said yes. I asked her if she went to church and she said she was Episcopalian. I asked her where she went and she said in town. After that, I stopped. I knew I wasn't going to get to her. Just her demeanor, her attitude made it very difficult to continue the conversation plus my spirit was like OK you can stop now.
I hate confrontation. I really do. But I survived the ordeal. The whole ordeal. The yelling and cussing (not my me but I really wanted to). Hey I'm human. I'm not perfect but the grace of Jesus Christ got me through it.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Been a while since my last blab...

2009-08-03T08:45:00.002-05:00

Hello,
It's been a while since my last post. Quite a bit has happened since then. I finished the summer semester with two A's and a B. I now have a 3.71 GPA. The fall semester is going to be really interesting for me. I am taking College algebra, English comp and two computer classes. Two semesters down, four to go.

We have been attending a little Southern Baptist. The pastor of the church (whom we know very well) asked my wife to play the piano for them. We were getting ready to stop attending the church we going to because my best friend was resigning as pastor. The reason we were attending his church was for support. He was going through a tough time and he needed moral support. So we went. We have been really good friends for over 17 years now. It was the least I could do for him. So, we start attending this church and my wife is playing the piano for them. The pastor finds out I was a chaplain's assistant in the Air Force. He also finds out I am going to school for computers. So, he is creating a position for me to serve in the church. I have taken over the slides for Sunday morning. He is also coming up with other duties for me as the Administrative Director.

God works in wonderful ways. He put us in a place where we can help out. And we are doing what we like to do.

Gotta run.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

An Anniversary for me...

2009-07-16T05:42:00.002-05:00

Hello,
Yesterday was a special day for me. July 15 1972 is a day which changed my life forever. I was adopted on that day at the age of 4 (almost 5).

Here is the Reader's Digest condensed version of what happened: My biological mother and my grandfather now, Papa Joe (who has passed) worked together in Tampa (where I was born). Papa Joe told his daughter that there is a red headed boy going to be put up for adoption do you want to come down and meet him (my Mom was told she couldn't have children). Mom and Dad drove from Atlanta to meet me. I wound up getting adopted. Side note: I had a brother 1yr and 8 days later.

I want to thank my Mom and Dad for the sacrifices they made for me when they didn't have to. Y'all are wonderful people. Thanks for everything. I Love Y'all.

So, July 15 is a special day for me. It's an anniversary or birthday kinda. Every year, I call my folks to wish them a happy anniversary.

Gotta run.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Been a while...

2009-07-14T06:55:00.003-05:00

Hello,
It's been a while since my last blog. Life has been happening my last blog. I am almost done with this semester. I finish next week. I have a final at the school and two finals on-line. Then I get to start back again next month. I probably have four more semesters and then I will be done with my Associates in Computer Science.

I am reading a book called Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Really good book. He talks about how much God loves us and how we should love Him back.

Speaking of books. I was doing some research on iTunes for audio books. So far, it's cheaper to buy the audio book than it is to buy the book itself. You can also download all kinds of stuff on iTunes. Check it out. (done with the plug for iTunes)

I need to close. Just something short for now. I have a math test (Intro to Algebra) this morning and I need to review.

Take care.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Father's Day 09, my 13th Father's Day...

2009-06-22T06:17:00.004-05:00

Hello,
It's been a little bit since my last blog. I have been busy and I really haven't had much to say.

Well, yesterday was Father's Day. I called my dad as we were on our way to my wife's grandmother's house. I wished him a Happy Father's Day and on the road we went. I got a couple of 14g earrings with pointy ends (all I did was change out the ends because they screw on and off) and a card. (History - On Dec 2, the second day of "retirement" I got my ear pierced. Actually cored with a 14g needle.)

We went to a new church. My wife is now the piano player for this church. The pastor is someone we have known for a while. It's a small church which is what we like. Very friendly. After church we went out to eat at Casa Ole, a really good Mexican restaurant.

After we ate, we were on the road so my wife and daughters could stay with her grandmother until Thursday. My son is here with my this week. We have some cleaning up to do since my mom is coming in on Thursday.

All in all it wasn't a bad Father's Day. Just busy. Lots of driving.

I need to close. I need to go over my math before my test today.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Sanctity of all life and other things...

2009-06-01T17:59:00.005-05:00

Hello,
Let me say right off the bat I am pro-life. Thank goodness my mom was pro-life. I believe in the sanctity of life, even those who murder innocent babies. I don't think it's our place to play God which anti-abortionists who kill abortion doctors try to do. When an abortion doctor is slain (not assassinated), it knocks the Christian movement back a few steps. It makes what others are trying to do, spread the love of Christ, very difficult to do. When these people murder someone else in "the name of Christ" they are very wrong in doing so. God will take care of them. I believe He has a very special place for them. A very hot place for them.

When Christians try to play God, get in people's business, it's wrong. If people would spend their energies on try to spread the love of Christ, tell people what they can do and not what they can't do, maybe people would follow Christ. Instead, there is hypocrisy, people being judgmental, being critical in the church. People don't want that. I don't want it either. Let God be God. Let God deal with the people. Our job as Christians is to plant the seed of Christ in their souls and let God work it out. When man tries to play God, things don't work out too well. Spend your energies on getting the Word out, not being negative all the time.

I know this will probably hit some people wrong. This has been on my heart for a while now. Think about it. Look around. Be positive. Share the love of Christ.

I am out of here

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Starting Summer Semester Today...

2009-06-01T06:36:00.004-05:00

Hello,
After being off of school for three weeks, I start back today. Thank goodness!! This has been probably one of the worst three week stretches in a while. Well, since March but I was in school then. I attended two funerals during this "break". One was my best friends grandmother and the last one was my wife's grandfather's. On a side note, Grandpaw married us over 15 years ago. I am ready for this semester to get going.

I am taking three classes. My Introduction to Psychology is strictly an online class. I found out Saturday, my Macroeconomics is 75% web based. We only meet once a week, on Mondays for classes. My Math class is everyday at the college. On Mondays, I am in class from 8 - 1045. On Tuesdays - Thursdays, I have class from 930 - 1045. I meet someone in the library to study Psychology.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Rev Frank Danley...

2009-05-27T21:02:00.002-05:00

Hello,
It's been a week since my last post and what a week it's been. Today would have been Rev Frank Danley's 83rd birthday but he didn't live long enough to see it. He passed away on May 22. Who is this Frank Danley? Well let me tell you.

Frank Danley was a very good man. He married his bride 58 years ago. He was a very good man. He never spoke a harsh word to anyone. TO ANYONE as some people in the family would say he did. They lie and you know who you are. He was a very good man. He would do whatever he could to help you out even in poor health. He was a very good man. He was a very gentle, quiet man. He will be missed by many. He made an impact on several people's lives.

RANT:

There are some people in the "family" who didn't respect him because of what he stood for. For his beliefs. People would steal from him and Grandmaw. These are the same ones who would look you in the face, tell you a lie to your face and turn around and try to stab you in the back. They are supposed "family". These are the same people who put on the act of crying and grieving but is willing to steal money or whatever they can get their hands on from these wonderful people. And/Or snub them and disrespect them. He told them what they needed to hear, not what they wanted to hear and it made them mad. They didn't want to hear it. Sound familiar. I do the same thing, tell people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear and I get ignored. They go and do what they want anyway and things turn out pretty bad. But we are wrong. We have no idea what we are talking about.

(End of Rant)

Frank Danley was a very good man. He will be missed by all of us here in our household.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off |,,|

Comment:

Another rant
I had to get this off of my chest. It's been bothering me for a while especially since he passed away. There are some "family" members who are really good. People I really do respect and trust and would help out as much as I can. There are some I wouldn't trust them as far as I can throw them. People mad at us (my family) for stupid things, silly things, petty things. Not talking to us at the funeral home or funeral itself. Giving us dirty looks like we killed their cat or something bad. Their loss. They need to grow up.
End of rant

Is this just amazing what is happening?

2009-05-20T15:33:00.003-05:00

Georgia Arms is the 5th largest retailer of .223 Ammo in America. They sell 9mm, .45, ..223 ammunition. They normally buy spent brass from the US Department of Defense. Spent brass is "one time used" shell cases used by our Military for training purposes.

They buy the brass, recondition it, and then reload the brass for resale to Law Enforcement, Gun Clubs, Gun Shops, and stores like Wal-Mart. They normally buy 30,000 lbs of spent brass at a time.

This week the DoD wrote a letter to the owner of Georgia Arms and informed him that from now on the DoD will be destroying the spent brass, shredding it. It will no longer be available to the ammo makers, unless they buy it in a scrap shredded condition (which they have no use for). The shredded brass i s now going to be sold by the DoD to China as scrap metal, after the DoD pays for it to be shredded. The DoD is selling the brass to China for less money than the ammo makers have been paying, plus the DoD has to pay to have the brass shredded and do the accounting paperwork.

This sure helps the economy now doesn't it? Sell cheaper to China, and do not sell at all to a proven US business. Any hidden agenda working here? Obama going after the Firearms Industry and our ammunition!!

The Georgia Arms owner even related a story that one of his competitors had already purchased a load of brass last week. The DoD contacted him this week and said they were sending someone over to make sure it was destroyed. Shell cases he had already bought!

The brass has no value to the ammo maker if it is
destroyed/shredded/melted. The ammo manufacturer only uses the empty brass cases to reload different calibers, mainly .223 bullets.

The owner of Georgia Arms says that he will have to lay o ff at least half of his 60 workers, within 2-3 months if the DoD will no longer sell spent brass cases to the industry. Georgia Arms has 2-3 months of inventory to use, by summer they're out.

If the Reloading Industry has to purchase new manufacture brass cases, then the cost of ammunition will double or even triple, plus Obama want to add a 500% tax on each shell.

You can read the information and see the DoD letter to Georgia Arms here:
The Shootist Site

http://www.theshootist.net/2009/03/dod-ends-sale-of-expended-military.html

If you're not outraged at what this administration is doing you should be! Be Afraid! Be Very Very Afraid! Get involved! It's Your Freedom and Our Country They're Stealing! If You Fail to Act Now, there may not be a Free United States tomorrow!

I implore you to get involved and forward this to as many people you can. Contact your legislators and put them on notice, We're fed up with what's going on! This is a call to action. Act now while you still can, or stay silent, roll over, and watch our country die!

Paul Vallely
Protect our 2d Amend2

My comment:
This is ridiculous and pretty stupid.

I don't own a gun but I believe in the 2nd Amendment. This has got to stop. Absolutely retarded.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Possible job...

2009-05-09T07:29:00.002-05:00

Hello,
Yesterday, we went to a Home School meeting in town. While we were eating, we (the parents) were talking. I told them I just finished my first semester of school. One of them asked what I was going for? I told her Computers - Information Technology. She told me she owns a computer repair shop in town. She handed me a card and some of the things they offer is Website Design and Website Maintenance which is my main focus at school. She told me send in my resume and we will what will happen.

I may have a job for something I am going to school for. More to follow on this.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Very interesting week of finals...

2009-05-08T07:38:00.002-05:00

Have you ever done anything stupid and it still came out alright? Well, that happened to me this past week of finals. It happened with Math and Public Speaking.

In Math, we took our last chapter test last Thursday. I had a B for my midterm grade, so I wanted to maintain the B for my final grade. I went in on Monday to pick up my test and see what I got. I scored a 72% on the test. Not what I was expecting. The test score put my average at 80%. I had to score an 80% or better to maintain my B in the class. I spent all day on Monday studying for the final exam. When the final grade was posted, I got my B. I wound up scoring an 81% on my final exam.

Now for my Public Speaking final exam. I totally goofed on this one. I studied for the final but not very well. I thought I knew the material going into the exam. I had already been kicking butt in the class. I wound failing, yes totally failing my final exam. Not good at all. Since the teacher uses a weighted scoring system, 50% of the grade is for the speeches, 40% of the grade is for tests and quizzes, and 10% for attendance, I still wound up with a 94 average.

Lessons Learned from my first semester in school:
1) Study, study, study. No matter how much you know the subject, study
2) If you don't know the material, ask for help.
3) Make sure you know what your grades are, so you can figure out what you need to make for your final. Going into it blind isn't a good thing.

I am done until Jun 1 when I start back up again.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Mothers...

2009-05-04T21:47:00.001-05:00

This is very good. I hope you enjoy it.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey is Signing Off

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2 . Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me..

What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?

3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball..
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Soul Cravings

2009-04-15T07:12:00.002-05:00

Hello,
An update. I am about finished with the book. I am reading the last section - Seek. There aren't any entries like the other chapters had. It's one big chapter. I should finish it today.

This book is one of the best I have read in a long time. Whether or not you believe in God, you have a soul, something deep inside of you is craving Intimacy, Destiny, and Meaning.

Everybody wants true Intimacy with someone. The kind of Intimacy which makes feel really good inside.

Everybody desires to have a Destiny.

Everybody wants to have Meaning in their lives. Some sort of meaning. Not doing anything doesn't cut it. We all have a desire to have Meaning in our lives.

I will comment some more about the book.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Soul Cravings - Meaning

2009-04-11T18:29:00.002-05:00

Hello,
Something else out of the book I am reading. The name of the chapter is "Making Sense of This Mess"

"Not only is it unhealthy to be lied to, but it is corrosive to our souls to lie and deceive others. We weren't designed to live a lie or even to tell one. Even if you don't believe in God, don't believe in objective truth, and don't believe in any moral absolutes, you still have to grapple with the unusual human phenomenon that we become psychologically and relationally sick when we live a lie and we find health in an environment of truthfulness, even the truth is more painful than a lie."

Our souls need the truth. We thrive on the truth. We are constantly trying to pursue the truth in everything. We don't go out looking for a lie. Nobody can stand being lied to. No matter how small the lie.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Soul Cravings - Destiny (Ambition)...

2009-04-09T15:34:00.002-05:00

Hello,
Here is some more from the book.

"It is God who has placed within you the fuel of ambition. You cannot live the life God created you to live without being ambitious."

"While many of us have to come to believe ambition is unhealthy, the truth is when you lose ambition, you lose your future. When you lose your future, you lose your hope. And no one can live well without hope. Without ambition we have no dreams worth living. When we let our dreams die, we start dying with them."

We all have dreams. We all strive to be something more than what we are now. When we share the dreams, people will either back you up or crush you. It seems when dreams, ambitions are shared at church, the one place a person would think positive feedback would come from because of who we represent: the dreams, ambitions are crushed. "Oh you can't do that." "It's silly." We as a church are so wrong.

How many dreams have been crushed by the church? By people who profess to be followers of the Messiah? I hope I won't crush anybody's dreams/ambitions.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Is Signing Off

Soul Cravings - Destiny

2009-04-09T11:31:00.003-05:00

Hello,
I am reading the second section of Soul Cravings - Destiny. Here is part of what I read and it touched my soul. It more like slapped me in the face:

"As children we assume that greatness is within our grasp. Whatever inspires us, we begin to dream that one day we will be the best. It is only as we lose our childlike innocence that we begin to settle for far less. A part of growing up seems to be acquiescing to mediocrity. It's easy to say that we're just becoming realistic, that it's just a part of growing up. But, in fact, it's the death of our souls. When we stop dreaming, we start dying. For some of us, this has been a slow painful death. Others are just walking dead. They died a long time ago, and it's nothing less than a freak of nature that they're still breathing."

I hope as a parent I don't stop my children from dreaming. I hope as a follower of the Messiah, I don't stop people from dreaming. If I can help somebody fulfill their dreams, I believe it's part of the Gospel. Not only to share the True Love of God but to help somebody with their dreams I think shows Love also.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Soul Cravings cont...

2009-04-09T08:48:00.003-05:00

Hello,
I finished the first section, Intimacy, not Love as previously posted (see last post) of Soul Cravings last night before bed. Here is what I got out of it.

Everybody's soul craves love. Intimate soul filling love. God sent His Son because He loved us. This is suppose to be the Gospel message. Not condemnation, but LOVE. TRUE INTIMATE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!!! This is why we are created, to love.

The church today I believe is the major cause of people not wanting to come to church. There is too much of what not to do and not enough of what God has to offer, love.

God wants to give us His Love. The greatest commandment is to Love God with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves. We all want to be loved by someone. Some people look, try different things, continue to look and don't truly find Love. When they turn to God, the author of True Love, that's when they find Love.

We as Christians need to show this Love Jesus showed for us, for everybody. Or are we going to be like Judas, look at Love in the face, kiss Him on the face and walk away.

Like I wrote yesterday, "If those who are the religious elite are closest to God, why is it that they are so rarely closest to love?
If God is love, those who know God best would love people most. Jesus said he came not to condemn the world, but to bring the world life. Why is it that so many who represent him are ever so quick to condemn?"

This gets me to another point. These groups who boycott everything are the ones I think driving people away from the Messiah. If they were to use their efforts to actually preach the true Gospel, how many would they save? How many lives would they change? They have lost focus on the true Gospel and more and more people are not wanting anything to do with the Gospel.

I hope this rambling makes sense.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Is Signing Off

Soul Cravings...

2009-04-08T12:45:00.002-05:00

Hello,
Last night, my wife and I went out to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary (a day early since we have plans for tonight). We went to Barnes and Noble to look for a book, unChristian. While looking for the book, another book caught my attention: Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus. I started reading it and couldn't put it down. So I got it. I highly recommend it. Well the purpose of this blog is something I read today touched me and I wanted to share it.
I am reading the section called Love. God is Love. We have been told that but it's deeper than that. This is what I read:

"If those who are the religious elite are closest to God, why is it that they are so rarely closest to love?
If God is love, those who know God best would love people most. Jesus said he came not to condemn the world, but to bring the world life. Why is it that so many who represent him are ever so quick to condemn?"

That hit me like a ton of bricks. The Bible story used is the woman brought before Jesus who was caught committing adultery. The religious elite were ready to condemn the woman but Jesus nipped that pretty quickly.

How many people do we condemn and not love as a follower of Christ? I believe this is one of the problem with the church today. We are ready to condemn somebody but not love them. Shame on us.

We condemn folks who are "different" from us because they don't dress like we do, act like do, look like we do. We are not showing the love of Christ. No wonder there is an image problem with the church.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Judging a book by it's cover...

2009-04-05T22:26:00.003-05:00

Hello,
I haven't really blogged about anything on my own. It's been mostly reposted stuff from news articles. I have something been rattling around in my cranium I wanted to get out.
How can we as Christians really know somebody by the way they look? How can we judge a book by it's cover? We can't. We as Christians don't know somebody's heart by just looking at them. Somebody covered with tattoos may have the most generous, loving heart but how would we as Christians know if we don't talk to them? Somebody who dresses nice, in a business suit may have the darkest, coldest heart but we as Christians are willing to talk to them, invite them to come to church because they aren't different looking, weird looking, they don't have tattoos, earrings everywhere, different colored hair, multiple colored hair. These people who frequent Hot Topic and those places deserve to be talked to by those who attend church, those who profess to be Christian. They deserve to be invited to church just like the ones who dress nicely. The "different" ones deserve to hear the Gospel of the High One just like everyone else.
Christians don't talk to them because they may take up the offer to come to church but it would embarrass your friends because the one's who are "different" aren't the same as your friends.
Shame on us for not reaching out to everyone. Everyone, even the "different" ones deserve to hear the Gospel.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

It's been a little bit...

2009-03-24T15:18:00.002-05:00

Hello,
It's been a little bit since my last post. I have been busy with school, sick kids and Gulf Wars XVIII. The political scene is getting way out of control with too much to post on Obama and his antics and I do mean antics. All I pretty much do now is share what I can from Facebook when someone else posts something worthy to share.

As far as school, I am doing pretty good. I have three A's and a B. The A's are in Introduction to Computer Science, Microcomputers in Business Application and Public Speaking. The B is my Pre-Algebra class. I have about five and half weeks left in the semester.

The kids being sick ugh. Melody and I went away this past weekend. We came back on Sunday after a really good weekend. I am at school Monday morning and get a text, Are u sick? Come to find out, Noah is sick throwing up. The girls are fine for now. After he throws up twice, he is doing better. As the day progresses, Rowan throws up on the carport. Shiloh is laying down and she throws up in her bed. Now we have both girls throwing up. They both stay in the living room for the night. Rowan is better today but Shiloh is still not feeling good.

Gulf Wars XVIII: This was our weekend trip. We left Thursday afternoon for Lumberton MS. We get there around 10pm. We unload the car of our stuff. I grab a tunic and go park the car. Melody goes to Merchants Row to find our friends. I catch up with them after making a parking place. We spent Thursday night through Sunday morning having fun. We watched a couple of battles, spent some money and hung out with our best friends from Texas.

I may change my posts on here. Not sure yet. Some may be political. A lot of them are going to be towards Leadership since I have a passion for it.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Obama's new strategy: Blaming Bush for 'mess'

2009-03-14T08:24:00.008-05:00

President sheds former reluctance to fault predecessor for state of economy

By Scott Wilson

The Washington Post

updated 2:51 a.m. CT, Sat., March. 14, 2009

In his inaugural address, President Obama proclaimed "an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics."

It hasn't taken long for the recriminations to return — or for the Obama administration to begin talking about the unwelcome "inheritance" of its predecessor.

Over the past month, Obama has reminded the public at every turn that he is facing problems "inherited" from the Bush administration, using increasingly bracing language to describe the challenges his administration is up against. The "deepening economic crisis" that the president described six days after taking office became "a big mess" in remarks this month to graduating police cadets in Columbus, Ohio.

"By any measure," he said during a March 4 event calling for government-contracting reform, "my administration has inherited a fiscal disaster."

Obama's more frequent and acid reminders that former president George W. Bush left behind a trillion-dollar budget deficit, a 14-month recession and a broken financial system have come at the same time Republicans have ramped up criticism that the current president's policies are compounding the nation's economic problems.

Obama had initially been content to leave partisan defense strategy to his proxies, but as the fiscal picture has continued to darken, he has appeared more willing to risk his image as a politician who is above petty partisanship to personally remind the public of Bush's legacy.

His approval ratings remain strong — above 60 percent, according to the most recent Gallup poll — but have dropped from their highs almost entirely because of falling support among Republicans since he took office.

Special risks
Upon entering the White House in 2001, Bush pinned the lackluster economy on his predecessor, using the "Clinton recession" to successfully argue in favor of tax cuts that won some Democratic support. But for Obama, who built his candidacy on a promise to rise above Washington's divisive partisan traditions — winning over many independent voters and moderate Republicans in the process — blaming his predecessor holds special risks.

He will need support beyond his Democratic base as he begins lobbying for his $3.6 trillion budget, which proposes sweeping changes in health care, the energy sector and the public education system. The president did not receive a single House Republican vote for his stimulus plan, prompting some in his administration to view his bipartisan outreach efforts as having little hope of success.

And Republicans have seemed only more emboldened in their rhetoric. Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), for example, recently called the borrowing needed to fund the president's economic recovery plans "generational theft."

"What the administration is involved in now is the politics of attribution," said Lawrence R. Jacobs, a political scientist at the University of Minnesota. "Each week that goes by with falling job numbers and Republican criticism of the administration's flaws means falling approval ratings. What's the antidote? That the guilty party is George Bush."

"The trick," Jacobs said, "is how do you shift blame to George Bush and retain any credibility on the idea that you are looking past partisan warfare? This looks like a doubling down on a very partisan approach."

Rahm Emanuel, Obama's chief of staff, denied that the president has changed his tone toward the previous administration. He said Obama is "not trying to place blame, but he is trying to say clearly: Here's what we've got and here's our way out of it. He's offered a positive alternative to their criticism."

"The truth is that 98 percent of his speeches are about the future, and 2 percent are about inheritance," Emanuel said. "Whereas I think for Republicans it's 2 percent about the future, and 98 percent hope that the people have amnesia."

Until recently, the job of reminding the country of the Bush-era legacy had been left mostly to senior administration officials, and it sometimes ranged beyond economic matters. Referring to the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Vice President Biden said soon after the inauguration that "we're trying to figure out exactly what we've inherited here."

In early February, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said that "after I accepted the position, I began looking at the broad array of problems that we were going to inherit," citing the Middle East, Pakistan and Afghanistan in particular.

'Sharpened language'
But most of the Bush-era blame has focused on the economy and the dismal state of the government's finances. Bush's spokesman, Rob Saliterman, declined to comment for this article.

Obama has strengthened his rhetoric gradually. Thomas E. Mann, a senior fellow at the liberal-leaning Brookings Institution, said the administration's "sharpened language is a response to the Republican argument against Obama based on huge deficits and big spending."

Six days after taking office, Obama kicked off an event on jobs, energy reform and climate change with "a few words about the deepening economic crisis that we've inherited." He lamented announced job cuts at such economic mainstays as Microsoft, Intel, Home Depot and Caterpillar, among others.

Just over a week later, Obama, arguing for his stimulus plan, said that "we've inherited a terrible mess," and a few days after that, in the economically depressed city of Elkhart, Ind., he told the audience, "We've inherited an economic crisis as deep and dire as any since the Great Depression."

During a prime-time news conference later that day, he used "inherited" twice in the same sentence to describe the deficit and "the most profound economic emergency since the Great Depression."

This month, Obama has described inheriting "a fiscal disaster" and "a real mess," as administration officials emphasized that the effects of the stimulus package have yet to be seen in paychecks and job-creating public-works projects.

Vanishing jobs
"There's a fascinating behind-the-scenes trend taking place for someone who remains a very popular president," said Ari Fleischer, a former Bush press secretary, describing the decline in Obama's approval ratings and an increase in disapproval numbers. "His response to that trend is to turn up the blame on George Bush and everything that came before him. And he was the one who talked about getting past partisanship."

The economy continues to shed jobs — 651,000 in February alone — and the Dow Jones index is roughly 12 percent lower than when the market opened on the day of Obama's inauguration. Perhaps most damaging has been the uncertainty surrounding Obama's strategy to rescue the banking sector, a plan that has been criticized for lacking detail.

Host Chris Wallace asked on "Fox News Sunday" this month, "Can this now fairly be called the Obama bear market?"

House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) said, "I want to take the president at his word that he wants to work on these problems plaguing American families," adding that "people are looking for leadership."

"It is the Obama economy and the Obama stock market," Cantor said. "This is about today, and he's assumed his post."

Researcher Alice Crites contributed to this report.

© 2009 The Washington Post Company

My Comments:

Same old, same old. When something is not going the way it is suppose to go, someone else gets blamed for it. Hell, I did it before and then changed my tune once I realized I am the only one who can make changes for the better or worse by my actions and decisions. It also takes time for things to happen: better or worse.

Do you think Obama is really going to do that? I think not. He is a politician. He is the top politician. He is going to blame any and everybody he can because things aren't going according to plan.

How long until 2012?

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

‘This Is the Rebirth’

2009-03-12T07:18:00.003-05:00

For one former rap star, academics trump celebrity.

Photo: L.A. Cicero

It takes a while before you really get to know Ahmad Ali Lewis. For all his affable openness, the junior sociology major simmers with complexity. He’s 33, a well-remembered former rap star, and a man who talks about Green Library as if it’s paradise. And that’s just for starters.

The rap-star history, of course, is irresistibly flashy. He was 18 when he landed a hit single, “Back in the Day,” on the 1994 pop and R&B charts from his album Ahmad. The message and sound had plenty of street cred, combined with an ironically sweet nostalgia about a dicey South Los Angeles childhood. His enrollment at Stanford, after being named last spring’s valedictorian at Long Beach City College, put him back in the news. The 14-year transition had taken him from nostalgic lyricist to nostalgic celebrity.

But Lewis says he’s defined by new aspirations that divide the present and the past. “I was divorced,” he starts off. “My band disbanded. Music is no longer the center of my existence—it’s academics now. A lot of things that were part of the old Ahmad died. This is the rebirth.”

Music is giving him the chance to elaborate on all that, even though it is a secondary priority. Before dealing with midterms, he was close to finishing an album he enthusiastically titled The Death of Me. Among the lyrics: “Back to college on the low like a panther/Finished as valedict’ then went to Stanford.”

Even if he finds a publisher—indeed, even if he zooms back to the charts—Lewis is intent on ultimately earning a PhD in social welfare. He grew up across the street from a crack house but escaped that environment with a basic positivism. Years later, he gave up life on the road with a band because he didn’t want to relegate his baby son to buses, planes and hotels. All along the way, something in him translated the ups and downs as encouragement for his inner scholar.

BACK WHEN: The album with Lewis’s hit single.

Lewis recalls an incident as a high schooler when he narrowly avoided being assaulted by a gang member. It stuck with him in a formative way.

“More than angry at the guy,” he notes, “my question was, ‘How did you get that way?’”

Paulette Holt, Lewis’s mother, says, “I just know that Ahmad was a different kind of kid. He was always focused, and he was ahead of his years.”

She offered him a variety of inspiration, from deep Christian beliefs that influenced his music to the personal fortitude she demonstrated after a divorce from Lewis’s father. Holt made education her bedrock, eventually earning a master’s degree. Now remarried, she works as a psychotherapist at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

By the time Lewis enrolled at Long Beach City College, his biography was mostly about resilience. The money from one hit song in the ’90s hadn’t stretched all that far, and he was bitter for years that his second album—infused with Christian convictions that he says displeased the record company—was never released. His second musical identity came with the band, 4th Avenue Jones, that he developed with then-wife Tena Jones. The band dissolved in 2005, though he still wears its name as one of his tattoos, and the marriage unraveled after that. But those were among the evolutions that drew him back to school and on to Stanford.

Stanford had 1,180 transfer applicants for this fall, and Lewis was one of 24 accepted. His financial aid covers tuition and room and board, and he’s receiving a foundation scholarship for other expenses.

Finding a rhythm to life on campus has been a challenge, in part because he spends every weekend in Southern California with his son, now 4. But in most ways, he says, he knows he’s where he belongs.

“Because he has this diverse range of experiences,” says Kate McQueen, a friend at Stanford pursuing a doctorate in German studies, “he’s never going to feel undervalued or question his contributions.”

“People ask, ‘How’s your transition, how are your classes?’” says Lewis. “The underlying question is, ‘Am I intimidated and do I feel out place?’ The answer is, I feel I’m one of the gang, and I’m among peers.”

Here are lyrics that Ahmad Ali Lewis wrote for an album he has titled The Death of Me.

The Death of Me (Verse 1)
I knew this kid in Killa Cali named Lil Mod
Freestyle or written he spittin’ it hard
Seen him battle rappers and rip’em all apart
People started bumping his music in their cars
On the boulevards he’s winning them awards
Making money associated with the stars
#1 with a bullet all up on the charts
Coppin’ Louis Vutton just so he can floss
All the groupies on him and giving him the drawz
At 17, like Nas, “The World’s Yours”
But he got bored with partying to him it’s bunk
Sitting alone, depressed, rolling a blunt
Got the money and women that ain’t what he want
He wants some peace, he wants joy, he wanna jump!
‘Cause he’s tired of living like he’s in a slump
Heard him praying “Lord go head and take me if you want”
He gave his heart to God
People mocked Ahmad
Because he got with God
His label dropped Ahmad
But they ain’t stop Ahmad
Got the cross of Christ
Even if it costs my life

Hook:
Can I live? This might be the death of me
Can I live? I don’t mind it though
Can I live? If it is the death of me
Can I live? It’s my time to go

Smile (Verse 2)
Smile
Is it really that bad?
Was he worth that?
Was it really gon’ last
End of your life?
Or is it just cash?
Is you gon’ die?
Or is it gon’ pass?
Cash kind of low
But you fashionable
Whip is tore
But you mashing it though
I used to have dough
Spoiled
Glad God gave me the 3
But I asked for the 4
Then I went broke
Woah!
Got a little independent deal
Hit the road
Had six in my band
Six in a van
Six hour drive
Then six split a grand
Man!
Nothing in my hand but a mic’
I’m let down like a kickstand on your bike
Saw my lil’ man sick his in diap’
I left right then like a windshield wipe
Back to college on the low like a panther
Finished as valedict’ then went to Stanford
And I ain’t paying for it
But I’m gon’ pay it forward
Who gets the glory?
You know I gotta say the Lord

Hook:
You should be smiling
Big grin all day
It’s almost over
You finna be OK
You should be smiling
Big grin all night
‘Cause when it’s over
You finna be alright

My Comments:

This is a story about one of our (my family) favorite music artists. He was part of 4th Ave Jones, a Christian group who has broken up. This is a pretty good story.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Media Downplay Any Talk of Obama's Socialism

2009-03-11T10:10:00.003-05:00

CNSNews.com -The RightNews, Right Now

Posted using ShareThis

Media Downplay Any Talk of Obama’s ‘Socialism’

Monday, October 20, 2008
By Dan Gainor
Little did Joe the plumber know that Barack Obama was just scratching the surface when he answered Joe’s question with a desire to “spread the wealth around.” A new discovery of a 2001 radio appearance by Obama has thrust socialism into the national spotlight despite the media’s best efforts to avoid doing just that.

In a Jan. 18, 2001, interview on Chicago public radio Obama talked about the limitations of the Supreme Court and how it had “never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth, and sort of more basic issues of political and economic justice in this society.”

Obama said one of the “tragedies of the Civil Rights movement” was focusing on legal remedies and not putting together the coalitions to bring about “redistributive change.”

The media have told us repeatedly that Obama promised “change.” Now we know what kind – “redistributive.” There’s an easier word for that. Socialism.

Joe the plumber only got the ball rolling about the true left-wing nature of many Obama policies. The media’s response has shown their near-complete unwillingness to take that discussion seriously. Now they should have no choice.

Merriam-Webster defines socialism as “collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.” It’s like they ripped that description right out of the Democratic platform – nationalized health care, eliminating private voting in union elections, massive new taxes and ever bigger government.

But when Joe Wurzelbacher, the Ohio plumber, challenged the man who would be king, er president, the result should have made socialism a subject of debate – especially following the endless rounds of Wall Street bailouts. Wurzelbacher described Obama’s view accurately, saying “that’s kind of a socialist viewpoint.” GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin responded appropriately. “Now is not the time to experiment with socialism,” she said.

The media response was woeful. A few network stories quoted Palin’s comment or referenced it, but the issue was hardly discussed. CBS, however, did its part to defend Obama with a “Reality Check” segment on the issue. The Oct. 21 “Evening News” story deployed Wyatt Andrews in defense of the left. “To Gov. Palin, Obama's plan reeks of socialism. This McCain Web ad calls it ‘welfare.’”

The story followed with a quick ad excerpt and then Andrews dodging the “socialism” question. “The welfare claim is false,” Andrews declared.” But because his story claimed to knock down the welfare claim, it gave the appearance of fending off the socialism accusation as well.

It didn’t.

“Hardball” host Chris Matthews showed the ignorance of the mainstream media during his Oct. 20 show. He asked a guest: “Is socialist a bad word, a naughty word?” Of course it is. Ordinary Americans know that answer. Only media types do not.

So some in the media went even further. Kansas City Star editorial columnist Lewis Diuguid claimed even using the word was “an old code word for black.” That’s in keeping with a regular media theme that any criticism of Obama is somehow racist.

The Columbia Journalism Review, the most left-wing of the industry publications, ran a snarky critique of the socialism argument under the headline “Journos of the World, Unite!” Ironically, they already have – under the Obama banner.

CJR staff writer Megan Garber wrote that “there are some basic ways for talking about the socialism charge without giving the charge credence.” Garber suggested an alternative. “’In an attempt to appeal to latent fear of the Red Menace, Sarah Palin today accused Barack Obama of harboring socialist leanings…’ Or some such.”

Despite general media censorship of this issue, there are a few courageous journalists willing to address it. WFTV-Channel 9's Barbara West took a very aggressive stance with Democratic VP candidate Sen. Joe Biden and asked whether Obama was a “Marxist.” Biden seemed stunned that someone in the media didn’t love the dear leader. The Obama camp responded by canceling all interviews with the Florida TV station.

CNN’s “Lou Dobbs” show gave viewers a needed look at what “21st century socialism looks like.” Host Lisa Sylvester detailed country by country how real socialism was destroying freedom in the Oct. 23 report. “In addition to communist stronghold Cuba, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez has seized assets and set price controls. In Nicaragua Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega has befriended Chavez and sharply curtailed democratic freedoms,” she explained.

That report shows the true dangers of socialism. It also gets at the heart of the media problem. Most journalists identify socialism by its worst-case-scenario results like Chavez. But it can take years to get there. The insidious dangers of socialism don’t always come emblazoned on a banner complete with hammer and sickle. Sometimes all we get is a smiling new leader wielding the hammer and a clueless media lending a hand.

Manchurian Candidate’ Starts War on Business: Kevin Hassett [Bloomberg Wire]

2009-03-09T20:29:00.000-05:00

March 9 (Bloomberg) -- Back in the 1960s, Lyndon Johnson gave us the War on Poverty. In the 1970s, Richard Nixon launched the War on Drugs. Now that we have seen President Barack Obama’s first-year legislative agenda, we know what kind of a war he intends to wage.

It is no wonder that markets are imploding around us. Obama is giving us the War on Business.

Imagine that some hypothetical enemy state spent years preparing a “Manchurian Candidate” to destroy the U.S. economy once elected. What policies might that leader pursue?

He might discourage private capital from entering the financial sector by instructing his Treasury secretary to repeatedly promise a brilliant rescue plan, but never actually have one. Private firms, spooked by the thought of what government might do, would shy away from transactions altogether. If the secretary were smooth and played rope-a-dope long enough, the whole financial sector would be gone before voters could demand action.

Another diabolical idea would be to significantly increase taxes on whatever firms are still standing. That would require subterfuge, since increasing tax rates would be too obvious. Our Manchurian Candidate would have plenty of sophisticated ideas on changing the rules to get more revenue without increasing rates, such as auctioning off “permits.”

These steps would create near-term distress. If our Manchurian Candidate leader really wanted to knock the country down for good, he would have to provide insurance against any long-run recovery.

There are two steps to accomplish that.

Discourage Innovation

First, one way the economy might finally take off is for some entrepreneur to invent an amazing new product that launches something on the scale of the dot-com boom. If you want to destroy an economy, you have to persuade those innovators not even to try.

Second, you need to initiate entitlement programs that are difficult to change once enacted. These programs should transfer assets away from productive areas of the economy as efficiently as possible. Ideally, the government will have no choice but to increase taxes sharply in the future to pay for new entitlements.

A leader who pulled off all that might be able to finish off the country.

Let’s see how Obama’s plan compares with our nightmare scenario.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has been so slow to act that even liberal economist and commentator Paul Krugman is criticizing the administration for “dithering.” It has gotten so bad that the Intrade prediction market now has a future on whether Geithner is gone by year’s end. It currently puts the chance of that at about 20 percent.

No More Deferral

On the tax hike, Obama’s proposed 2010 budget quite ominously signaled that he intends to end or significantly amend the U.S. practice of allowing U.S. multinationals to defer U.S. taxes on income that they earn abroad.

Currently, the U.S. has the second-highest corporate tax on Earth. U.S. firms can compete in Europe by opening a subsidiary in a low-tax country and locating the profits there. Since the high U.S. tax applies only when the money is mailed home, and firms can let the money sit abroad for as long as they want, the big disadvantage of the high rate is muted significantly.

End that deferral opportunity and U.S. firms will no longer be able to compete, given their huge tax disadvantage. With foreign tax rates so low now, it is even possible that the end of deferral could lead to the extinction of the U.S. corporation.

If any firms are to remain, they will be festooned with massive carbon-permit expenses because of Obama’s new cap-and- trade program.

Importing Drugs

Obama’s attack on intellectual property is evident in his aggressive stance against U.S. pharmaceutical companies in the budget. He would force drug companies to pay higher “rebate” fees to Medicaid, and he included wording that suggests Americans will soon be able to import drugs from foreign countries. The stock prices of drug companies, predictably, tanked when his budget plan was released.

Obama will allow cheap and potentially counterfeit substitutes into the country and will set the U.S. price for drugs equal to the lowest price that any foreign government is able to coerce from our drugmakers.

Given this, why would anyone invest money in a risky new cancer trial, or bother inventing some other new thing that the government could expropriate as soon as it decides to?

Finally, Obama has set aside $634 billion to establish a health-reform reserve fund, a major first step in creating a universal health-care system. If you want to have health care for everyone, you have to give it to many people for free. Once we start doing that, we will never stop, at least until the government runs out of money.

It’s clear that President Obama wants the best for our country. That makes it all the more puzzling that he would legislate like a Manchurian Candidate.

My comments:

This is a very interesting and thought provoking read.

No one really knows and won't know until it's too late.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Rep. Charlie Rangel swears at Jason Mattera over scandal questions

2009-03-09T10:48:00.002-05:00

Watch the video. It's quite interesting.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Chasing lions…

2009-03-09T10:34:00.001-05:00

Chasing lions…

by George Ambler on Sunday, March 8, 2009

Inspired by one of the most obscure acts recorded in Scripture….

“Benaiah chased a lion down into a pit. Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the lion and killed it.” - II Samuel 23:20

The LION CHASER’S MANIFESTO

Taken from The Community Fellowship’s series of Chase the Lion adapted from Mark Batterron’s book In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day…

“Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshipping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion!”

Your greatest regret at the end of your life will be the lions you didn’t chase!

No comments on this one.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

A couple of things...

2009-03-06T07:17:00.002-06:00

Good morning,

Today is going to be an interesting day. In about 10 minutes, the jobs report is coming out. From what I have read, it doesn't look good. Rumors are saying 7.9% unemployment rate or around 650,000 jobs lost.

If it is as bad as rumored or worse, the Stock Market is going to take a beating today. If it isn't as bad as rumored, hopefully the Stock Market will start to rally. Only time will tell.

Oil is starting to creep up. Now, with us being dependent on foreign oil, it will probably continue to creep up. Pres Obama has stopped the drilling for oil in the places Pres Bush authorized. Stopping the oil drilling is getting rid of jobs but I thought he wanted to create jobs. Huh? Explain that to me.

Have a good day. I will be back to post later.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Wall Street: Ugly is back

2009-03-05T19:00:00.002-06:00

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Stocks plunged to fresh 12-year lows Thursday as investors waded through more grim news: GM said its survival is in doubt, bank shares took a beating, and Citigroup fell below a buck.

Adding to the global woes: China defied expectations by failing to boost its economic stimulus program.

The Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) fell 281 points, or 4.1%, to close at 6,594.44, ending at the lowest point since April 15, 1997. The Dow has now fallen 14 of the last 18 sessions.

The Nasdaq composite (COMP) fell 54 points, or 4% to close at 1,299.59, ending at the lowest point since 1279.24 on March 12, 2003, at the bottom of the previous bear market.

The S&P 500 (SPX) index lost 30 points, or 4.2%, closing at 682.55, the lowest finish since Sept. 18, 1996.

Stocks slipped at the open and kept falling from there, with the selling accelerating as the major gauges failed to hang on to key technical levels that traders watch.

"Once we broke through that 700 level on the S&P, which has been intact since 1996, all the people who were watching it left the building," said Joe Clark, market analyst at Financial Enhancement Group.

He said that with the major gauges at these levels, market pros have even less of a sense of where the so-called bottom is.

Stocks have been sliding on and off since peaking in October 2007 amid the housing and credit market collapse and the onset of the recession - which technically began in December 2007.

But the declines have picked up the pace year-to-date in response to growing pessimism about the economy. As of Thursday's close, the Dow is down almost 25% this year, the worst start in the 113-year history of the Dow.

Since closing at a record 14,164.53 on Oct. 9, 2007, the Dow has fallen 53% as of Thursday's close. Since closing at a record 1,565.15 on Oct. 9, 2007, the S&P 500 has fallen 56% as of Thursday's close.

Since hitting a bull-market high of 2,859.12 on Oct. 31, 2007, the Nasdaq has tumbled 54.5% as of Thursday's close. But the Nasdaq has never come near its record of 5,048.62 hit on March 10, 2000, at the apex of the Internet boom.

Financials: Among the big losers, financials were hit especially hard. Bank of America (BAC, Fortune 500), Citigroup (C, Fortune 500), Wells Fargo (WFC, Fortune 500) and Morgan Stanley (MS, Fortune 500) were among the losers. The KBW Bank (BKX) index lost 11.8%.

Citigroup fell for a time below $1 a share, to its lowest level ever at 97 cents, before ending at $1.02. More on Citi from CNNRadio.

JPMorgan Chase (JPM, Fortune 500) tumbled 14% after Moody's lowered its long-term outlook on the company to "negative" from "stable" late Wednesday.

A variety of insurers slipped including Allstate (ALL, Fortune 500), MetLife (MET, Fortune 500), Chubb (CB, Fortune 500), Progressive (PGR, Fortune 500) and Hartford Financial Services (HIG, Fortune 500).

Failed insurance giant AIG (AIG, Fortune 500) slumped 18.6% as U.S. regulators discussed the company's $180 billion bailout in a Senate hearing.

"It's the same old story, with the financial sector continuing to hammer the market," said Steven Goldman, market strategist at Weeden & Co.

"Everybody is so bearish right now that you would expect to be in the midst of a counter-trend rally," he said. "But the implosion in the banking and insurance sectors is just overwhelming."

Stocks managed to snap back from 12-year lows Wednesday on hopes that China would announce that it was increasing the size of its stimulus plan. But the Chinese premier did not announce any boost to the $586 billion plan at a key political meeting in Beijing Thursday. (Full story)

GM: Concerns about the outlook for General Motors also weighed on stocks Thursday. GM said in its annual filing that there is substantial doubt about the automaker's ability to survive.

The company has sustained huge losses over the course of the recession and has already received $13.4 billion in federal loans. GM has said it needs additional federal money to stay afloat. GM (GM, Fortune 500) shares fell 15.5%.

Wal-Mart Stores: The world's No. 1 retailer reported a bigger-than-expected jump in February sales, thanks in part to lower gas prices. Wal-Mart said that sales at stores open a year or more, a retail metric known as same-store sales, rose 5.1% in February versus forecasts for a rise of 2.4%.

Separately, the company said it is boosting its annual dividend by 15% to $1.09 from 95 cents per share. Wal-Mart (WMT, Fortune 500) shares rose 2.6%.

As a result of Wal-Mart, the overall retail sector posted a slight rise in February same-store sales, versus previous forecasts for a decline, according to Thomson Reuters.

Nonetheless, many retailers continued to see weaker sales, due to the impact of the slowing economy and growing joblessness.

Wal-Mart rival Target (TGT, Fortune 500) said sales fell 4.1%, sending shares 3.1% lower.

Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) said same-store sales plunged 30% in the month, sending shares of the clothing retailer down 13%. Nordstrom (JWN, Fortune 500) said sales fell 15.4%, sending shares of the department store chain down more than 10%.

Gymboree (GYMB) warned late Wednesday that first-quarter profit will miss forecasts and same-store sales in the quarter will slide 20% to 25%. Shares of the children's clothing retailer plunged 27% Thursday.

Market breadth was negative. On the New York Stock Exchange, losers beat winners by more than 12 to 1 on volume of 1.88 billion shares. On the Nasdaq, decliners topped advancers by more than five to one on volume of 2.35 billion shares.

Economy: January factory orders fell 1.9% after dropping 4.9% in the previous month. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com thought orders would fall 3.5%.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment fell to 639,000 last week from 670,000 in the previous week, versus economists' forecasts for a drop to 650,000.

Another report showed that fourth-quarter business productivity was weaker than initially reported, falling at a revised 0.4% annual rate versus the initially reported 3.2% annual rate. Economists thought it would grow at a 1.1% annual rate.

Bonds: Treasury prices rallied, lowering the yield on the benchmark 10-year note to 2.81% from 2.98% Wednesday. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.

Lending rates were little changed. The 3-month Libor rate held steady at 1.28%, unchanged from Wednesday, while the overnight Libor rate rose to 0.32% from 0.31%, according to Bloomberg.com. Libor is a bank-to-bank lending rate.

Other markets: In global trading, most Asian markets ended lower with the exception of the Japanese Nikkei. European markets tumbled.

In currency trading, the dollar gained versus the euro and fell against the yen.

U.S. light crude oil for April delivery fell $1.77 to settle at $43.61 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

COMEX gold for April delivery rose $21.10 to settle at $927.80 an ounce.

My comments:

Oh my goodness. Another drop of about 300 points. Unbelieveable!!! And yes, Geithner did testify today. I am seeing a pretty bad pattern here. Geithner speaks, the stock market goes south. It happened Tuesday and today.

At least this story has some good stuff in it.

I am at a loss for words.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Woman Bites Off Boyfriend's Tongue During Kiss

2009-03-05T14:56:00.002-06:00

A British woman deliberately bit off her boyfriend's tongue during a kiss after complaining she wanted a baby and wasn't getting pregnant, the BBC reported.

Tracey Davis, 40, and her boyfriend were celebrating his 45th birthday when she got upset and he tried to comfort her.

While Mark Coghill was moving closer to her, she asked him to kiss her.

"He did so and within a few seconds, she bit down hard on h is tongue." prosecutor Julian Smith said, according to the BBC . Obviously this caused him pain, he pulled back, and the tongue had come clean off in her mouth. She had the piece of tongue in her mouth, he saw her take it from her mouth, and it fell to the floor."

Coghill says the incident has left him struggling to speak, unable to distinguish between foods and no longer able to work.

"I will never enjoy a curry again," he said. "I can't distinguish between certain foods, like the difference between cheese and toast, and just toast.

My comments:

Like I said, anything goes. I read this and it just ain't right. I don't need to add anything else.

I'm out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Stocks in early slide

2009-03-05T09:06:00.002-06:00

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Stocks slumped Thursday morning as questions about GM's ability to survive reignited the selloff that has sent the Dow and S&P 500 toward 12-year lows.

The Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) fell 104 points, or 1.5%, holding just above the April 1997 levels it reached on Tuesday. The S&P 500 (SPX) index lost 12 points or 1.7% and held above its Tuesday lows from October of 1996.

The Nasdaq composite (COMP) fell 15 points, or 1.2%, and held above the three-month lows it hit on Tuesday. The tech-fueled average has held up better than the other major averages this year and remains above its close of 1,316.12 from last Nov. 20.

On Wednesday, the Dow rose nearly 150 points, and the S&P and Nasdaq posted better than 2% gains, snapping a 5-session losing streak for the indexes. The Dow had fallen to the lowest level since April 1997 and the S&P to the lowest point since October 1996 before the advance.

But the latest news from General Motors (GM, Fortune 500) helped send stocks back down. The troubled automaker said Thursday in its annual filing that "there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern." Shares plunged 11% in morning trading.

China: Chinese premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday promised a political gathering in Beijing that the nation's economy will continue to grow despite the global slowdown. But Wen did not announce any addition to the nation's $586 billion stimulus plan, disappointing global investors.

Expectations of a boost in the plan helped lift stocks around the world - including the United States - on Wednesday.

Economy: Wal-Mart Stores reported a big surge in February sales, helping the overall outlook for retail sales in the month to improve modestly. (Full story)

The number of Americans filing for initial unemployment benefits fell last week, according to a government report.

The report came a day ahead of the monthly employment report for February, expected to show a decline in payrolls of 650,000 and a rise in the unemployment rate to 7.9% from 7.6% in January.

Markets: Asian stocks ended mixed Thursday, with Tokyo's Nikkei index up nearly 2%. European markets pulled back in early trading.

Oil slipped $1.20 to $44.18 a barrel. The dollar rose against the euro and yen.

My comments:

I know it's early in trading, but I have a question or two:

If the automakers are in so much trouble and the government keeps pumping money into them, what would actually happen if they did file for bankruptcy?

What would happen if AIG filed for bankruptcy?

If these companies weren't in the picture anymore, what would happen to the economy?

These companies seem to be kind of like a weed to the economy. The more something (money) is added, the more they seem to grow. They look really pretty at first and then they choke the crap out of whatever they have: Automakers, AIG and whatever else the government has pumped money into doesn't seem to be working. How about another approach Washington?

I will post the end of day results this afternoon or this evening.

I'm out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Robin Williams, short of breath, takes a break

2009-03-04T22:58:00.002-06:00

(CNN) -- Doctors advised Robin Williams to take a week off from the 80-city tour of his one-man comedy show after the comedian experienced shortness of breath, according to his publicist.

Robin Williams, currently on tour with a one-man show, is taking a break after suffering shortness of breath.

Performances set for this week in three Florida cities -- Hollywood, Orlando and Tampa -- will be put off until later, the publicist said in a statement on Williams' Web site.

"Williams was experiencing shortness of breath and is currently being evaluated by doctors who are recommending a week of rest," the statement said.

Williams, 57, will return to the stage with his "Weapons of Self-Destruction" show in Jacksonville, Florida, next Wednesday night, it said.

On the road since last September performing sold-out shows, Williams has covered 11 cities in the past three weeks.

His Web site says the shows "highlight Williams' trademark free associations and riffs on social and political absurdities."

Don't Miss

Official site: Robin Williams

This isn't the first time the actor and comedian has coped with health problems. In August 2006, Williams checked himself into an alcohol rehab center.

"After 20 years of sobriety, Robin Williams found himself drinking again and has decided to take proactive measures to deal with this for his own well-being and the well-being of his family," his publicist told CNN at the time.

My comments:

I hope he recovers because he is one of the funniest people I have ever seen. Keep him in your thoughts.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Stocks up today...

2009-03-04T21:31:00.003-06:00

I will try to make this portion a daily occurrence.

Stocks were up today across the board:

Dow up 149.82 pts

Nasdaq up 32.73 pts

S&P 500 up 16.54 pts

Hopefully this is a start of something good but it's going to take a long while to get back the money I have lost so far in my IRA.

I guess Geithner didn't speak today (snicker). Actually, I think he did and stock market didn't drop. I believe this is the first time this has happened.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Two Democrats urge Obama to veto spending bill

2009-03-04T18:00:00.002-06:00

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two Senate Democrats urged President Obama Wednesday to veto a $410 billion spending bill and said they are going to vote against it, criticizing it for its cost and for including too many personal pet projects.

The U.S. Senate is voting this week on an emergency spending bill for FY09.

"I don't think we should pass it [spending bill] this way," Feingold said on CNN's The Situation Room Wednesday. "[I'd like] to have the president veto it and say 'clean it up, do it over.'"

Feingold added: "If that doesn't happen I think he should ... lay down a policy and [say] 'OK, this was stuff from last year ... but from now on don't send me appropriations bills with earmarks or I'll send it back to you.' I would love to see him say that."

The legislation in question is an omnibus bill that would keep the federal government running through the rest of the fiscal year, which ends in September 2009.

The legislation includes $7.7 billion in earmarks, which are unrelated pet projects that members of Congress insert in spending bills.

Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Indiana, said those who vote in favor of the bill "jeopardize their credibility."

"But the bloated omnibus requires sacrifice from no one, least of all the government. It only exacerbates the problem and hastens the day of reckoning," Bayh wrote in a Wall Street Journal editorial published Wednesday.

"Voters rightly demanded change in November's election, but this approach to spending represents business as usual in Washington, not the voters' mandate."

During the election season, Bayh was considered one of the front-runners to be Obama's vice president.

Other Democrats have defended the size of the spending bill, saying it is necessary to help counter the economic downturn and restore budget cuts made under former President George Bush.

Obama is expected to sign it bill when it crosses his desk.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the legislation needs to be passed because the government has to "deal with last year's business" and said Obama will work with Congress to reduce earmarks in the future.

"The president believes the best way to reduce wasteful spending is to work with Congress in order to do that," Gibbs said. "We have seen throughout the past few years that the amount in the number of earmarks in the legislation has been cut significantly. The president believes we can do even more and looks forward to working with Congress to ensure that that happens."

Gibbs said Monday that the Obama administration was formulating guidelines for earmark reform.

The following day, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer declared that Congress, not Obama, will decide whether to put more limits on earmarks in upcoming spending bills.

Asked about Gibbs' statement, Hoyer said flatly, "I don't think the White House has the ability to tell us what to do."

He paused deliberately and quipped to reporters in the room, "I hope you all got that down."

Hoyer pointed out that Democrats have cut down the number of earmarks and now require that all requests get posted on the Internet. But, he conceded, "I think there are additional things we can do and consider."

And the Maryland Democrat added, "It is certainly appropriate for the White House to suggest ways of going forward so that we can have agreement between the White House and ourselves."

He said congressional leaders have talked to the White House about "concerns it had," but refused to offer any specifics.

CNN reported Monday that, according to Democratic sources at a White House meeting last week, Obama urged Democratic leaders to "limit" future earmarks and, in what one official described as a "tense" exchange, the leaders told the president they'll do what they can to continue reform, but that earmarking projects for districts and states is a prerogative of Congress.

Hoyer, who attended the White House meeting, vigorously defended earmark requests Tuesday, calling them "the congressional initiative process."

The majority leader dismissed a reporter's question on whether the $410 billion spending bill for the rest of this year is becoming an "embarrassment" to Obama, and reiterated Obama's argument that the package is "last year's business."

Hoyer also said that even though Obama, then a senator, did not request any earmarks in last year's spending bill, he did request projects for Illinois in prior years he served in the Senate.

Longtime pork barrel spending critic Sen. John McCain, who opposes earmarks, offered an amendment to the spending bill Tuesday that would have frozen spending at 2008 levels through the 2009 fiscal year, which ends September 30. McCain's amendment failed to pass Tuesday, which means the spending bill made up of about 1 percent earmarks will now go to a vote.

Critics, including McCain, have said the excessive spending in the bill would be contrary to the president's recent pledge to cut unnecessary government spending and pork-laden earmarks.

Several members of Obama's administration served in Congress and have earmarks listed on the bill.

Vice President Joe Biden requested $750,000 for a University of Delaware program during his time as a senator from that state. Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who was a Democratic congressman from Illinois, requested $900,000 for a planetarium in Chicago, Illinois.

An Emanuel aide told CNN on Monday the request was submitted more than a year ago and is leftover business.

But Sen. Richard Burr, R-North Carolina, said Washington is in a "state of denial."

"It seems that every morning you pick up the newspaper, you're reading about another multibillion-dollar government spending plan being proposed or, even worse, passed. ... We become numb to what the dollar figures really mean, or the obligation that accompanies them," he said in the weekly Republican address Saturday.

Last week, the House of Representatives passed the $410 billion spending bill. House GOP leaders said the spending increases in the bill -- $31 billion more than the previous fiscal year -- are too large.

The bill passed on a largely party-line 245-178 vote, with most Democrats voting in favor of it and most Republicans opposed.

Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonpartisan watchdog group, listed some of the earmarks being proposed by members on both side of the aisle.Read more of the group's analysis

My Comments:

Is there starting to be some dissension in the Democratic Party? Who knows but I find this interesting and yes I did get this off of cnn.com

President Obama hasn't been in office but what six weeks and problems are starting arise. Very interesting. Can't wait for more of this.

I'm out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Geithner Defends Tax Hikes In Obama Budget

2009-03-04T16:28:00.002-06:00

President Barack Obama's top economic officials on Tuesday vigorously defended tax hikes in the administration's $3.6 trillion budget against Republican claims that they would affect nearly all Americans.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and White House Budget Director Peter Orszag, in separate appearances on Capitol Hill, stuck to the administration line that the president's budget would benefit 95 percent of working Americans.

Higher taxes for affluent Americans would not come until 2011 once "we are safely into recovery," Geithner told the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.

Watch the video below for Geithner's tesimony.

"I'm confident this is the right path for the country," Geithner said.

But Republicans argued that the portion of the budget that would require polluters to purchase permits from the government for their emissions would essentially impose huge new energy costs on consumers and businesses.

"The president's budget increases taxes on every American, and does so during a recession," Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., told Geithner.

Camp also complained about provisions that would limit the size of charitable contributions that could be taken by families earning more than $250,000 a year.

But Geithner defended the proposals, saying far more people would benefit from lower taxes under the plan.

Orszag faced similar questioning before the House Budget Committee. He defended Obama's proposal to raise taxes on more affluent Americans.

Geithner also said that President Obama will work with Congress to determine the appropriate size and shape of future financial stability efforts as conditions develop.

In testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, Geithner said a $250 billion "placeholder" provision in Obama's budget plan for additional financial stability costs did not represent a specific request.

The figure would theoretically allow the Treasury to purchase $750 billion in financial sector assets.

"Rather as events warrant, the president will work with Congress to determine the appropriate size and shape of such efforts, and as more information becomes available the administration will estimate potential cost," Geithner said in prepared remarks.

Geithner said the Obama budget plan addresses deep challenges for an economy that is shrinking and caused the administration to inherit a $1.3 trillion budget deficit.

"The contraction in credit is causing more job losses and further declines in business activity, which, in turn is adding more pressure on the financial system," he said.

Geithner also said it was important to bring deficits down in four years to around 3 percent of gross domestic product, keeping the national debt from growing faster than the economy itself.

"Failure to reduce deficits to this level would result in higher interest rates as government borrowing crowds out private investment, leading to slower growth and lower living standards for Americans," he added.

Meanwhile, the Treasury Department has provided $394.9 million to 28 banks in new payments from the government's $700 billion financial rescue fund.

The department says the new payments bring the total paid out to $196.76 billion. That covers 467 financial institutions in 47 states and Puerto Rico.

Under the program, the government is buying preferred stock in banks as a way to bolster their balance sheets in the hopes of getting them to resume more normal lending.

Copyright 2009 Reuters. Click for restrictions.

My Comments:

Tax increases for everybody. WooHoo. Lets party.

Our President is hooking us up.

You see, I can bitch about the president because I DIDN'T VOTE FOR HIM!!!!

Enough said. This is wrong on so many levels. I will find more information about this and post it.

I am out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signs Off

Geithner Touts Tackling Tax Evaders After Failing to Pay Own Taxes

2009-03-04T16:08:00.002-06:00

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told the House Ways and Means Committee Tuesday that the Obama administration, which has been riddled with tax problems, is mounting plans to go after tax evaders.

The pot has issued the kettle an ultimatum: tax dodgers beware.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who was forced to fork up $34,000 in unpaid back taxes, told the House Ways and Means Committee Tuesday that the Obama administration will be going after people who avoid and evade taxes.

In prepared remarks before Congress, he said the president is intent on "tackling tax shelters and other efforts to abuse our tax laws, including international tax evasion efforts."

Geithner himself never used a tax haven to avoid payment, but did neglect to pay Medicare and Social Security taxes while he was a self-employed staffer for the International Monetary Fund. He even hired an accountant for two of the years he forgot to file.

"Over the next several months," he said Tuesday, "the President will propose a series of legislative and enforcement measures to reduce such U.S. tax evasion and avoidance."

But the Treasury secretary might want to heed something of a caveat legislator: such a dragnet could quickly catch a handful of Obama's top appointees.

Tom Daschle, Obama's pick to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, had to bow out when it was disclosed that he had failed to pay $128,000 in back taxes. Nancy Killefer, who was appointed by Obama to scrutinize government spending for the OMB, also had to withdraw her nomination because of tax issues.

And just a day before Geithner's appearance in the House, Obama's designated Trade Representative, Ron Kirk, told the Senate Finance Committee that he owed some $10,000 in back taxes that he had agreed to pay.

Some of the administrations enforcement measures, put forth in good faith inside the president's proposed budget, might be hitting just a little too close to home.

I find this funny, in a sick sort of way. I wonder if Geithner is going to "tackle" Daschle and the other crooks. Maybe he will tackle himself. This is one of the most ridiculous things I have heard. I think he is saying to get the heat off of us, we will go after the one's who oppose us. Absolutely asinine.

I'm out of here.

John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

Top Five Promises Broken by "The Chosen One", Pres Obama...

2009-03-04T11:36:00.002-06:00

I found this on Foxnews but couldn't share it so I copied and posted it here.

Posted in: First 100 Days, Politics, Top Stories

By Phil Kerpen
Director of Policy, Americans for Prosperity

Promise #5: Sunlight Before Signing

What he said:

“Too often bills are rushed through Congress and to the president before the public has the opportunity to review them. As president, Obama will not sign any non-emergency bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days.” (BarackObama.com campaign Web site)

What he did:

Obama signed the Lily Ledbetter bill, the SCHIP/cigarette tax hike, and the stimulus bill all with far less than a five-day waiting period that he promised–and continues to promise–on his campaign Web site.

Promise #4: Lobbyist Revolving Door

What he said:

“No political appointees in an Obama-Biden administration will be permitted to work on regulations or contracts directly and substantially related to their prior employer for two years. And no political appointee will be able to lobby the executive branch after leaving government service during the remainder of the administration.” (BarackObama.com campaign Web site)

What he did:

Obama appointed Goldman Sachs lobbyists Mark Patterson chief of staff at the Treasury Department, where he directly oversees his former employer, a recipient of $10 billion of taxpayer funds from the TARP. Obama also appointed Raytheon lobbyist William Lynn to be an undersecretary of Defense.

Promise #3: No Tax Hikes on the Poor

What he said first:

“I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.” (September 12, 2008, Dover, N.H.)

What he did first:

By signing H.R. 2 into law, Obama happily signed onto the idea that smokers should pay for a $35 billion expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP). Cigarette taxes are going up 61 cents a pack starting April 1. Obama signed this bill knowing that the majority of smokers in the United States are working poor, and one in four lives below the federal poverty line.

What he said next:

“If your family earns less than $250,000 a year, you will not see your taxes increased a single dime. I repeat: not one single dime.” (February 24th, 2009, Address to a Joint Session of Congress)

What he did next:

Ignored the already-hiked cigarette tax at the time of the statement and then this restated promise was broken just two days later, when the Obama’s budget proposal was released. His new budget raises 45 percent of its revenue from energy taxes that will be paid by everyone who fills a gas tank, pays an electric bill, or buys anything that was grown, shipped, or manufactured.

Promise #2: Pork Barrel Earmark Reform

What he said:

“The system is broken. We can no longer accept a process that doles out earmarks based on a member of Congress’ seniority, rather than the merit of the project. We can no longer accept an earmarks process that has become so complicated to navigate that a municipality or non-profit group has to hire high-priced D.C. lobbyists to do it. And we can no longer accept an earmarks process in which many of the projects being funded fail to address the real needs of our country.”

(Statement on Earmarks, March 10, 2008)

What he is expected to do:

The White House has signaled that it intends to sign the $410 billion Omnibus Appropriations bill, which according to Taxpayers for Common Sense, contains 8,570 earmarks totaling $7.7 billion, including dozens of wasteful pork-barrel projects. These earmarks were awarded based on seniority, not on merit, and were mostly the result of high-priced lobbying, precisely the process that Obama promised to end. When the omnibus reaches his desk later this week or next week, we’ll find out if this is one more broken promise.

Promise #1: Big Government

OK, so this one is more of a statement than a promise, but it’s the biggest whopper of all.

What he said:

“Not because I believe in bigger government — I don’t.” (February 24, 2009, Joint Address to Congress)

What he did:

Obama proposed a budget that is breathtaking in scope, a blueprint for the biggest permanent expansion of government in history right on the heels of a sweeping trillion dollar stimulus plan. The budget lays the foundation for a government takeover of the health care and energy sectors and dramatically increasing spending across the board, other than defense weapons programs. Spending as a percentage of the economy under this budget will reach the historic level of 27.7 percent this year. The deficit as a percent of the economy, at 12.3 percent, is set to be the biggest in the entire history of the country outside of the four peak years of World War II. Anyone who offers such a budget can only fairly be described as a believer in bigger government.

Phil Kerpen is director of policy for Americans for Prosperity.

Now my comments:
This is what we have to look forward to for the next four years. Nobody in Washington is going to do anything about it. The American people will try to do something about it, those who aren't blinded by Obamamania, the "chosen one", the "Messiah" for this country but Washington isn't listening. Washington doesn't listen since the majority is Democrat and people want their government money no matter what.

We, as Americans, must keep those in Washington liable and responsible for their actions.

I'm out of here until next time.

John
The Book Donkey Signs out

How this is going to work...

2009-03-04T11:05:00.002-06:00

Hello all,
I hope your day is going good. I am writing to tell you how this is going to work when I blab:

1) If I can share the story to the blog, I will. Then I will make my comments.

2) If I can't share the story, I will copy it, post it, share the link so you can see for yourself and then make my comments.

Comments:
Please share your comments, good or bad, on the blog. Expect a response though if I feel it's necessary. Don't get personal and let's have some fun with this.

Later,
John
The Book Donkey Signing Off

The Beginning...

2009-03-03T22:28:00.000-06:00

Hello folks,
This is the beginning of what I call "Book Donkey Blabs." You are probably wondering right off the bat, Book Donkey Blabs? What the heck is that? Well, here is an explanation for ya. A little bit of history. I am part of the Society for Creative Anachronism which is a medieval reenactment group where you can create a persona during the 600's to 1600's. It's really cool. More on that later. I was trying to come up with a creative way to say "smartass" with out actually saying it. Well, I came up with Book and Donkey - Book meaning smart and donkey meaning ass. I will post a picture of what I am talking about.

Now to the purpose of this blog or blabs as I call them: to voice my views about any and everything I can get my hands on (and would like to comment on).

About me: I am a Libertarian, Pro Life (but I don't think the gov't should be involved), Retired Military - USAF, Fulltime Student, Musically Schizo, Leadership Junkie, House and Burn Notice fan, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity listener, Sports Freak, and a Smartass. If I think of other things to add, I will at a later date.

If what I post offends, oh well - It's MY opinion. We all have our First Amendment rights unless the current administration has taken that from us now. Not sure. They are so sneaky (that will be an entry for sure.)

i hope you enjoy the ride - show, whatever you want to call it.

Shalom to all,
John
The Retired Fulltime Student
The Book Donkey signing off